At a press conference in Miami, Sen. Ileana Garcia fainted, but Florida’s surgeon general was quick to react and caught her before she fell.
This unsettling incident occurred while Garcia was speaking alongside Governor Ron DeSantis and other lawmakers about a state water freeze ban.
During her speech, she suddenly paused, swallowed hard, and appeared to lose her ability to continue.
“Governor, forgive me, I’m not feeling well, so I have to sit down,” she managed to say just before collapsing.
Surgeon General Joseph Radapop, who was nearby, quickly jumped into action, ensuring she didn’t hit the ground. He softly reassured her as he helped her into a chair.
“Hey, hey, hey, hey, I got you, I got you,” he said as he eased Garcia into his chair.
Despite the situation, she remained seated and managed to continue her remarks shortly after, seeming unaffected by the earlier incident.
Moments later, she stood up and confidently returned to the podium, joking about her earlier scare. “Was this my moment? I couldn’t,” she laughed, expressing her gratitude towards Governor DeSantis and the support she received.
She wrapped up her speech to a round of applause and exited the stage amidst cheers from the audience.
Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez took the opportunity to commend her, stating, “There’s absolutely nothing to stop the woman from fighting for the people of Florida.”
