ESPN anchor who urged vaccinations 'suddenly' collapses on-air

Former soccer star and ESPN anchor Shaka Hislop is searching for answers after he suddenly collapsed on-air.

Hislop was standing and speaking with co-host Dan Thomas during a pre-match telecast Sunday when he suddenly stumbled and fell forward, a smile still on his face. 

He received immediate medical attention and appeared to be fine in a video he posted the next day.

"Well, that was awkward. What a 24 hours this has been,” he said in a video posted by ESPN. “Listen, every so often, 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 I've lost touch with for whatever reason who have reached out either directly or indirectly. Thank you.”

While ESPN tried suggesting Hislop collapsed due to the 91-degree heat, the former athlete did not sound so sure, saying he is still searching for a “medical opinion”.

“My response now has to be to seek out the best medical opinion I can get and listen to what my doctors have to say,” he continued.

While Hislop has still offered no explanation for his collapse as of this report, many are pointing to his vaccine messianism during the pandemic as a possible factor. Reports of people suddenly collapsing have been increasing in varying temperatures, and a link to the experimental COVID-19 injections have yet to be ruled out.

“I urge everyone: If you haven’t had your shot, please visit the How to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine in Newcastle webpage on the Newcastle City Council website,” Hislop said in a 2021 video. “You can schedule your vaccine on there. Go out, do it. If you take your vaccine, you’ll be saving more than just your life, you’ll be protecting so many around you.”

On Instagram, Hislop posted a photo of him apparently taking the injection and wrote: "Got mine. Get yours! It's not a debate. It's no longer even a discussion."