An Australian meteorologist has recently shared an emotional message to viewers after he suffered a panic attack live on air.
Nate Byrne, an ABC News Breakfast presenter, was forced to stop his segment mid-way after he felt a panic attack coming on.
“We’re going to see lots more rain in the days ahead,” Byrne was heard saying during the August 13 broadcast of ABC News Breakfast before clasping his hands together and announcing that he needed to pause for a second.
“Some of you may know that I occasionally get affected by some panic attacks, and actually, that’s happening right now," he said before passing it back to his co-host Lisa Millar.
Millar handled the situation perfectly, stating: "You certainly can Nate," before going on to expand on what a massive impact Byrne has had by opening up about his condition.
She then referenced his past article which was published on ABC's website back in 2022.
"It’s fantastic that he has been so open and transparent about it, and the response when he first wrote about it and spoke about it was that everyone said: ‘Oh thank God, Nate’s not perfect. We thought he was perfect.'"
In the article, the 45-year-old opened up about still "dealing with anxiety", stating that he had his first panic attack live on air during a broadcast.
“In that moment I thought that my career was over - something was taking control of me without my permission or understanding, and it was preventing me from doing what made me, me,” he wrote.
“My place of joy and purpose was now an existential hellhole, corrupted in a quarter of an hour. I more than cried - I sobbed as I grieved a loss I couldn’t comprehend," he continued in the piece.
After his on-screen ordeal, Byrne rejoined the broadcast.
"Sorry if I gave anybody a bit of a scare there," he said as he joined his co-hosts on the sofa.
"Not really, because you’ve been very honest before about getting panic attacks on air,” Millar said. “And it’s so great for people to know that it can happen to anyone.”
"You gave me a scare because I thought I’d have to finish doing the weather report, and I’m no good at that," Michael Rowland joked, earning a laugh from Byrne.
Taking to social media after the broadcast, Rowland delivered a message on behalf of his colleague and friend.
"You might have seen Nate experience a panic attack earlier this morning while presenting the News Breakfast weather," the co-host started. "Nate’s open about his panic attacks - he’s even written about them before - and he’s doing okay!
"Thank you for all the supportive messages (There have been so many. What a wonderful audience we have!)," he continued. "As a team, we’ll always have your back, Nate. Always.
"(Although I hope I didn’t make matters worse with my bear hug off-camera…)," he joked.
In the comments, Byrne replied with an emotional message thanking his friend.
"Thanks @mjrowland68 and to everyone else - I have the best (and biggest!) support team. Makes it all so much better," he wrote.
We can't help but gush at the bond between everyone at ABC Breakfast!
