Heather McDonald collapses on stage and is taken to a hospital
'I did one joke and felt so dizzy': Comedian Heather McDonald apologizes to fans from her hospital bed after collapsing on stage and fracturing her skull during stand-up routine
By
Sam Joseph Semon For Dailymail.com
Published: 17:09 GMT, 6 February 2022 | Updated: 01:59 GMT, 9 February 2022
Comedian Heather McDonald has said she feels 'so terrible' that her show was cancelled after she collapsed on stage and fractured her skull during a stand-up routine.
The 51-year-old comedian passed out just after delivering her second joke on stage at The Tempe Improv in Arizona on Saturday night and was taken to hospital.
She took to Instagram to apologise to her fans on Sunday from her hospital bed by saying: 'Oh my God, I'm so so so so so sorry.
'I got up, I did one joke and I felt so dizzy. You can see my eye, I fell on my eye. Oh my God I cannot believe this happened, I feel so terrible that they had to tell everyone to leave and then cancel the second show.'
Ms McDonald added that she has 'never, ever' fainted in her life.
Medical emergency: Comedian Heather McDonald collapsed on stage at The Tempe Improv in Arizona on Saturday night
Her management has announced that she may be released later today and McDonald has vowed to perform at The Tempe again in future.
McDonald's second joke of the show, which she headlined, poked fun at the unvaccinated and made light of the ongoing pandemic.
'I'm vaxxed, double vaxxed, boosted ... and flu shot, and shingle shot, and haven't gotten COVID and Jesus loves me most,' she stated.
Following the line's delivery, Heather collapsed to the floor and hit her head, remaining conscious after the initial impact.
Audience members felt that the action was part of her act, although it soon became clear that an actual medical emergency had occurred.
Sudden event: The 51-year-old comedian shared updates with her fans to Instagram following the scary incident, which was initially reported by TMZ
An EMT and a nurse were luckily present at the show and rushed onto the stage to administer first aid.
The 911 call regarding the incident included mention of a potential seizure and an ambulance was sent to the Tempe Improv.
McDonald turned down the ambulance and instead had her sister-in-law, who was present at the show, take her to a local hospital.
She told the media outlet that she experienced a feeling of dizziness just prior to the collapse and that she had never felt that way during a show at any point in the past.
Explanation: She told the media outlet that she experienced a feeling of dizziness just prior to the collapse and that she had never felt that way during a show at any point in the past; she is seen in January
The comic also mentioned that, although she had received a cat scan and been subjected to other diagnostic tests, medical professionals were unable to point out the cause for the incident.
McDonald expressed that her head hurt and that she was feeling tired but was otherwise doing well.
She also stated that she was not happy about having to end her show in such an abrupt manner.
Stable condition: McDonald expressed that her head hurt and that she was feeling tired but was otherwise doing well; she is seen in 2021
The comedian made a point of remarking that she had been vaccinated for COVID-19 and that she never had it at any point in the past.
McDonald had performed two shows at the Tempe Improv in the days prior to the incident.
She also shared a shot of herself on stage to her Instagram before the final show, and she wrote that she had 'so much fun' during her previous performances.
Working hard: McDonald had performed two shows at the Tempe Improv in the days prior to the incident; she is seen in 2021
The comic went on to share a trio of videos from her hospital bed to her Instagram Story, and began her clips by apologizing for the collapse.
She also reiterated that she was sorry about having to end her show in an early and unplanned manner and that she had 'never ever fainted in my life.'
McDonald did point out, however, that she would return to perform in Tempe in the near future.
Back in the saddle: McDonald did point out, however, that she would return to perform in Tempe in the near future
