ABC star Nate Byrne opened up about what triggered his panic attack on air this week.
The News Breakfast weather presenter was forced to suspend his report mid-broadcast on Tuesday morning after suffering an anxiety attack while on air.
Appearing in the Carrie and Tommy On Thursday’s hit show on the Hit Network, Nate revealed that being on camera in front of the “weather wall” triggered his panic attack.
“It’s very, very different for me and fortunately for me it only happens when I’m in that place, which should actually be my safest place,” she admitted.
“My favorite place in the world is standing on the weather wall doing my thing. But (it only happens) when I’m in front of a camera.”
Nate also revealed that he was surprised when he started experiencing panic attacks, “about four or five years ago,” especially given his previous career as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy.
“For me, it was about five years ago when I was in my early 30s. I was in the military and was deployed in active war zones. I’ve never gotten very anxious,” Nate said before detailing how the problem first arose.
‘A couple of years into television, I was told to get into the studio quickly one day. I was needed immediately. So I ran up to the protective wall and gasped.’
ABC star Nate Byrne has spoken out about the source of his anxiety after suffering a panic attack on air this week.
‘It was only a 20-minute run, but I really moved quickly and then the camera focused on me and I tried to control my breathing so I could do the proper presenter voice.
“I think I forgot how to breathe properly at that point and left some oxygen in my brain while I was walking.”
Nate later revealed that this incident was just a preview of what was to come and that his first panic attack occurred “about 15 to 20 minutes later.”
“We found ways to manage it,” he added.
“The thing is that I obviously can’t get away from the camera, but I do a little gesture when I need to. I dig my thumbnail into the side of my finger, not hard enough to hurt myself, but hard enough to focus on something.”
“For me it’s a great coping technique, but it’s different for each person.”
Nate also praised radio host Carrie Bickmore for speaking out about her own struggles with anxiety on air this week.
Nate, who appeared on the Carrie and Tommy radio show on Thursday, revealed that being in front of a camera triggered his panic attack. Pictured is host Carrie Bickmore
Nate was forced to stop his report in the middle of Tuesday morning’s broadcast after suffering a panic attack while live.
He interrupted his broadcast just before 6.30am, telling viewers: “I’m going to have to stop for a second.”
With a trembling voice, she told viewers: ‘Some of you know that I occasionally suffer from panic attacks, and in fact that’s happening right now.
—Lisa (Millar), maybe I could give it back to you.
Co-host Lisa quickly took over the broadcast while Nate recovered off-camera.
Nate has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety: Publish an article in 2022 where he documented his experiences of panic attacks on air.
The weather presenter was later welcomed back onto the show and apologised for walking out.
“I’m sorry if I scared anyone a little,” he said.
Nate was forced to stop his report in the middle of Tuesday morning’s broadcast after suffering a panic attack live on air.
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