Sweden's health minister speaks out after collapsing on live TV during her first day
Topics: World News, News, Politics, Health
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: SVT
Topics: World News, News, Politics, Health
Warning: This article contains footage which some readers may find distressing.
On her first day in the role as Sweden's newly-appointed Minister of Health, Elisabet Lann shockingly collapsed during a news conference.
She was elected to the position following the resignation of her predecessor, Acko Ankarberg Johansson earlier this week.
Lann had previously served as one of Gothenburg's municipal councillors and a member of the Christian Democrats, having worked in politics since 2019. Her professional background also boasts a deputy director position at the Cabinet Office, as well as participation in the Health Care Responsibility Inquiry.
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Taking to the stage for a news conference on Tuesday (9 September), alongside the country's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, as well as Christian Democrats party leader Ebba Busch, the 48-year-old planned to discuss her arrival into the role.
She told assembled journalists (as per WION): "Swedish healthcare is of high quality; the main issue is the long waiting times. We must transition to equitable healthcare. It is clear that we must strengthen government control."
Unfortunately for Lann, however, minutes after inviting questions from journalists, live television footage caught the politician slowly angling forwards as another speaker addressed query from reporters.
In footage recorded by local outlet SVT, she seems to become unconscious whilst in mid-air, before falling wholly forwards and knocking down the transparent podium before her.
Both government officials and reporters in the first few rows rushed to Lann's aid, attempting to keep her off the ground.
Deputy Prime Minister, Ebba Busch went on to place the woman in the recovery position.
In clips since shared by a number of international news outlets, including CBS, a member of the team's security subsequently assists her to her feet before rushing her out of the room.
After taking several minutes to compose herself, Lann then returned to the conference.
Addressing her fall, the minister told attendees she'd fallen after feeling her 'blood sugar drop', SVT reports.
Lann explained on the stage: "This was not exactly a normal Tuesday, and this is what can happen when you have a blood sugar drop."
According to People, it has not yet been determined whether the politician sustained any serious injuries during her fall.
A DN journalist told the New York Post: "It looked really bad. She fell right in front of me."
Despite Lann attempting to continue with the conversation as planned, The Sun reports that the planned press conference was subsequently cancelled in the wake of the incident.