ABC News weather anchor Nate Byrne had to take a break mid-broadcast Tuesday morning after suffering a panic attack while on air.
Fortunately, the journalist’s anxiety issues were well known to his colleagues, who quickly helped Byrne as he struggled to finish his segment on Queensland weather.
Byrne calmly interrupted his report to explain to the audience what was happening, before handing the floor back to his ABC News breakfast co-anchors Lisa Millar and Michael Rowland.
“I’m really going to have to stop for a second,” he said.
‘Some of you know that I occasionally suffer from panic attacks, and in fact that is happening right now.
—Lisa, maybe I could give it back to you.
Millar was prepared and took control comfortably so Byrne could recover off-camera.
He took the opportunity to highlight An editorial Byrne published about his experiences of panic attacks on air in 2022..
ABC News weather anchor Nate Byrne had to take a break mid-broadcast Tuesday morning after suffering a panic attack while live on air. Pictured during the event
In the article titled “Live TV Triggered My First Panic Attack,” Byrne described the “terrifying experience” that forever changed her perspective on anxiety and mental health.
The weather presenter was later welcomed back onto the show and apologised for walking out.
“I’m sorry if I scared anyone a little bit,” he told Millar, who joked that he was just afraid of having to step in and report the weather.
“Nate wrote a great article on the ABC website about this and I think we might republish it, put it on our social media, so you can read it a little bit because it’s fantastic that he’s been so open and transparent about it,” Millar explained to viewers.
‘The response when he first wrote about it and talked about it was everyone was like, “Oh thank God, Nate’s not perfect, we thought he was perfect, but he’s actually sharing something now.”
“You’ve been very honest before about suffering panic attacks while on air and it’s great for people to know that it can happen to anyone,” Millar continued.
The ABC weather presenter regularly suffers from panic attacks.
Byrne then thanked his team for helping him through the attack before the broadcast resumed.
A panic attack is a brief episode of intense anxiety, which causes physical sensations of fear.
These may include rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, tremors, and muscle tension. Panic attacks occur frequently and unexpectedly and are often unrelated to any external threat.
In Byrne’s own words, he experiences panic attacks like this:
‘As I stood there under the studio lights, talking to people sipping their morning coffee and wiping sleep from their eyes, my heart was racing, I was panting, and sweat was pouring from every pore as my brain screamed, “RUN!”
“But I was in one of my favorite places, doing what I love most.”
In a detailed account of his first panic attack, Byrne said that as soon as the camera panned away from him, he abandoned his on-air attitude and “doubled over, trying to catch my breath, dizzy and confused about what was happening.”
Since then, she has been working with a psychologist to learn and practice coping skills so she can continue doing the work she loves.
Rowland has since shared the moment on social media with the update that Byrne has rested and is now doing well.
“You may have seen Nate experience a panic attack this morning whilst presenting the weather on News Breakfast,” she captioned footage from this morning’s broadcast, which was shared on her personal Instagram account at midday.
His ABC News Breakfast colleagues praised Nate for being open and honest about his anxiety. Pictured: Nate (right) with Lisa Millar (centre) and Michael Rowland
“Nate is open about his panic attacks, he’s even written about them before, and he’s doing well!” Rowland shared.
The news anchor and journalist profusely thanked viewers of the morning show for their kindness and understanding. He also mischievously noted that he hopes he didn’t “make things worse” for Byrne by giving her a “big bear hug off-camera” after the incident.
“Thank you for all the messages of support (There have been so many! What a wonderful audience we have!),” Rowland continued.
“As a team, we will always have your back, Nate.”
‘Always’.
TV colleagues, high-profile Australians and viewers flocked to the comments to offer their support, with many praising Byrne and her colleagues for “normalising” anxiety and modelling how to effectively and compassionately support someone going through it.
“Sending all my love to Nate! Congrats to Nate and the team for getting through this so well. We’re all human and many of us have been in similar situations. What a beautiful role model you are Nate, honest and authentic,” one viewer wrote.
“These are horrible things. All my love to him,” wrote Karl Stefanovic.
“Live TV is a challenge,” said Sophie Scott, a mental health professor at Notre Dame. “Showing humanity and vulnerability will help other people who live with anxiety and panic attacks.”
Australian writer and “appearance activist” Carly Findlay OAM also chimed in: “You’re amazing, Nate.”
“Thank you for your openness and honesty. It makes it easier for others to speak out,” added another.