Alison Hammond has reassured fans that she is “fine” after a frightening health scare forced her to leave This Morning live on air and later sent her to hospital for checks.

The 51-year-old presenter suddenly appeared distressed during Friday’s broadcast. Viewers saw her clutch her chest and leave the set while co-host Dermot O’Leary helped her off camera. He later told viewers that Alison was “feeling a little unwell” and continued presenting the programme without her.  

If you watched it live, it was genuinely alarming. One minute the show was carrying on as normal, and the next Alison was visibly struggling to catch her breath while Dermot tried to help her away from the cameras.

Thankfully, Alison later posted an update from hospital.

“Honestly, I am fine, first of all, but I’m getting my ol’ ticker checked out.”

She explained that she had experienced heart palpitations and thought she may have had a panic attack. Doctors were checking her heart as a precaution.  

That last part is important. It is tempting to watch a clip and decide exactly what happened, especially when symptoms resemble a panic attack. But chest pain, palpitations and breathlessness are also symptoms doctors take seriously for good reason. Alison did the sensible thing by getting checked rather than assuming.

Dermot also deserves some credit here. He looked understandably shaken but carried on with the show after helping Alison off set. That cannot have been easy when his friend and co-host had just become unwell beside him.

And of course, because this is the internet, some people apparently used Alison’s health scare as an excuse for racist commentary rather than basic human concern. There is something particularly grim about watching a woman leave live television clutching her chest and deciding that your contribution should be abuse.

For now, the important news is that Alison says she is okay and doctors are investigating what caused the palpitations.

Hopefully, that really is all this turns out to be, a terrifying moment, a thorough medical check and then Alison back laughing on our screens when she is ready.  

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