Florida’s surgeon general leaped into action when a state senator passed out during a speech on Tuesday.
State Sen. Ileana Garcia had joined Gov. Ron DeSantis and controversial Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo to discuss their plans to ban fluoride in the Sunshine State’s drinking water at a news conference in Miami.
But halfway through her prepared remarks, the Republican lawmaker was seen swallowing hard, and stopped speaking.
She instead turned her attention to DeSantis, quietly pleading: ‘Governor, forgive me, I’ve got to sit down, because I am not feeling well.’
Garcia then slouched down and fell sideways – right into Ladapo’s arms, as he jumped from his seat to the stage.
‘Hey, hey, hey, got you, got you, got you,’ he reassured the lawmaker, as he slowly lowered her into a chair.
Garcia then remained seated for about three minutes, as Ladapo spoke to her and others – including DeSantis – brought her water and fanned her.
When she finally returned to her feet and retook the podium, the audience applauded.
Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo sprang into action when State Sen. Ileana Garcia fainted during a news conference on Tuesday
Garcia was speaking out in favor of the state’s plans to ban fluoride from drinking water
But Garcia seemed to be embarrassed by the whole situation.
‘Are you kidding, this was my moment?’ she joked, adding that her fainting spell was ‘nerve-wracking, but this was my moment.
‘And I so appreciate your grace, Gov. DeSantis,’ Garcia said, thanking the onetime Republican presidential candidate for his efforts to help.
She wound up finishing her remarks without any further issues, and left the stage to applause.
When Miami-Dade Commissioner Robert Gonzalez then took the stage, he encouraged the audience to give the state senator ‘another round of applause,’ saying ‘absolutely nothing is going to stop that woman from fighting for the people of Florida.’