'Call an Ambulance!': Newly-Appointed Swedish Official Collapses on Her First Day — What Happened?

On what should have been a triumphant moment, Sweden's new Health Minister collapsed mid‐press conference in a surprising turn of events captured live on camera.

On Tuesday, 9 September 2025, just hours after being appointed, Minister for Health Elisabet Lann fainted unexpectedly during her inaugural press briefing, creating a scene fraught with concern and urgency.

The footage shows Lann abruptly slumping forward and toppling a transparent lectern as colleagues and journalists rushed to assist.

Though she returned briefly to address the media, attributing the episode to a sudden drop in blood sugar, questions linger over the cause and what this means for her new role.

Context and Immediate Aftermath

Lann, aged 48 and representing the Christian Democrats, had just taken over the health portfolio following the sudden resignation of her predecessor, Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

During the conference, she fainted while another speaker was addressing the room. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Christian Democrats leader Ebba Busch and security staff sprang into action.

Lann collapsed along with the lectern, momentarily unconscious. She returned later, saying simply: 'This was not exactly a normal Tuesday, and this is what can happen when you have a blood sugar drop.' It remains unclear whether she received full medical attention, though she did not appear seriously injured.

The Broader Pattern: Not the First Collapse of Its Kind

This incident is not isolated. Across politics, podium faintings have become startling but not unprecedented.

In the UK, Conservative presenter Kate McCann collapsed off-camera during a live TV debate between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in July 2022, leading to its abrupt cancellation, though she was reported to be fine afterward.

In the United States, Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump campaign adviser, fainted mid-speech at a Young Republicans event in December 2024. After slurring his words, he collapsed at the podium, prompting concern and quick assistance; later, he quipped backstage, 'Did I at least look cool?'

Meanwhile, Florida State Senator Ileana Garcia collapsed during a speech earlier this year. The Florida Surgeon General rushed to her side and helped her back to the podium, where she waved off concerns with, 'Are you kidding? This was my moment.'

Implications for Lann's Tenure and Public Confidence

Lann's collapse has introduced immediate concern over the stability of Sweden's health leadership at a critical moment. The healthcare system faces mounting pressure from staffing shortages, long wait times and rising demand. Her sudden vulnerability, even if caused by something as common as low blood sugar, may shake public confidence and raise questions about her readiness.

On the other hand, her immediate return to the stage and candid explanation may humanise her in the public eye, projecting resilience in adversity. Still, transparency around her medical condition and capacity to serve is vital.

Elisabet Lann's fall on her first day in office served as jarring symbolism of the pressures inherent in public service — and the unexpected ways they can manifest.

How she navigates the aftermath may prove as defining as the policies she sets out to implement.