ESPN soccer analyst Shaka Hislop is fine after he collapsed live on air during AC Milan and Real Madrid’s friendly at the Rose Bowl in Southern California on Sunday night.
Hislop was speaking with ESPN’s Dan Thomas before the game live on the network when he suddenly started swaying on the sidelines. Hislop then fell face first and hit Thomas slightly. The broadcast then cut to commercial in what was a terrifying scene.
Thomas quickly provided an update on social media that Hislop was conscious.
Thomas appeared live during halftime of the match to announce that Thomas was both conscious and talking, and that “he’s apologized profusely.” Specific details about his condition or what led to his collapse aren’t known.
“As you can imagine, seeing that happen live, there can’t be many more things that can scare you amongst a family, but we spoke to his wife and things are looking OK,” Thomas said.
Hislop then provided an update on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
“Well, that was awkward,” Hislop said in a video. “What a 24 hours this has been. Listen, every so often in life gives you a moment to pause, and this was mine. There’s so much I have to be thankful for: My wife, kids, family, loved ones, friends, people I’ve shared a space with over the years and have lost touch with for whatever reason and have reached out either directly or indirectly, thank you.
“My response now has to be to seek out the best medial opinion I can get and listen to what my doctors have to say.”
Hislop, 54, played soccer professionally for 15 years, and was the starting goalie for Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s national team during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He played in Europe for Newcastle United, West Ham and Portsmouth before playing two seasons with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer. He retired in 2007.
