What sparked ABC star’s panic attack

A TV weatherman has revealed what sparked a sudden incident live on-air which required his report to end abruptly.

ABC weatherman Nate Byrne has opened up about the panic attack which struck him during a live broadcast on the network’s morning TV program, News Breakfast.

During last Tuesday’s show, Nate halted his weather segment during the episode, saying that he “occasionally gets affected by panic attacks” before throwing to co-host Lisa Millar to take over the remainder of the segment.

Speaking with Will & Woody on the KIIS Network, Byrne described what happened in that moment, what triggered his panic attack and how he copes when they arise.

ABC weather presenter Nate Byrne needed to pause on-air after experiencing a panic attack. Picture: ABC News Breakfast.

“The weather wall is my happy place and originally, [I had] run there, been out of breath, was trying to control it so I could use my good presenter voice. And I think I kind of forgot how to breathe properly in that moment, starved my brain of oxygen a bit and it didn’t feel very happy about that. And so, the next time I was at the wall was when I had a panic attack. In fact, that’s the only place it happens for me,” he explained.

The ABC star went on to share how he dealt with the situation the first time he ever experienced it during his career.

“After the very first one happened, I went immediately went to a doctor, got some beta blockers which by chance, I was also on air on the news that night,” he explained.

LIFE: Waistcoats … Nate Byrne, ABC News Breakfast. Image supplied.

“And I’ll tell you how quickly this medication can work. That morning, I had my first panic attack, was unable to go on air. That night I was on national television doing the news.”

After the panic attack on Tuesday, the presenter reappeared on the couch with his co-stars, Lisa Millar and Michael Rowland, apologising for ending the weather report abruptly in case he had caused concern.

“Sorry if I gave anybody a bit of a scare there,” he said.

His sincere response was met with sympathy from Millar, and the reaction of his co-stars was praised by viewers.

“Not really, because you’ve been very honest before about getting panic attacks on air and it’s so great for people to know that it can happen to anyone,” she said.

“You gave me a scare there because I though I’d have to finish doing the weather report and I’m no good at that!”

Originally published as What sparked ABC star’s panic attack