A press conference led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took an unexpected turn Tuesday, May 6, when State Senator Ileana Garcia, a Republican representing Florida’s District 36, momentarily lost consciousness while delivering a speech on environmental legislation.
Garcia was standing at the podium addressing the crowd when she suddenly turned to DeSantis, who was offscreen, and indicated she wasn’t feeling well and needed to sit down. Within moments, her eyes closed and her body began to tilt to one side, putting her at risk of falling to the floor.
Fortunately, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who was in attendance, quickly sprang into action. Ladapo rushed to Garcia’s aid, catching her before she could fall and helping her into a chair.
“We’ve got you,” Ladapo repeatedly assured Garcia as he tended to her.
The audience immediately responded to the situation, with several attendees jumping from their seats to surround Garcia. Governor DeSantis and others brought her water and attempted to cool her down, providing comfort during what must have been a disorienting moment for the state senator.
Despite the concerning nature of the incident, Garcia demonstrated remarkable resilience. After approximately one minute of rest, she regained her composure, stood up, and returned to the podium to complete her address.
Upon resuming her position at the microphone, Garcia made light of the situation, joking that this was her moment and she couldn’t miss it. She then proceeded to finish delivering her prepared remarks on environmental legislation, much to the admiration of those in attendance.
Garcia later described the experience as nerve-wracking but expressed gratitude to Governor DeSantis for his grace during the unexpected medical episode. The governor, who served in the U.S. Navy and was deployed to Iraq during the war in 2007, was seen smiling at the conclusion of Garcia’s speech, seemingly impressed by her determination to continue despite the health scare.
The press conference, held in Miami, Florida, was convened to discuss significant environmental policy changes. Prior to Garcia’s address, Governor DeSantis had announced plans to ban local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water throughout the state.
The exact cause of Garcia’s momentary fainting spell was not immediately clear. However, the swift action of Surgeon General Ladapo, combined with the supportive response from Governor DeSantis and others present, ensured that the situation was handled effectively and with minimal disruption to the proceedings.
Garcia’s quick recovery and determination to complete her remarks drew praise from fellow officials. Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez expressed admiration for her tenacity, emphasizing that Garcia would not let anything stop her from advocating for Florida residents.
Gonzalez stated that absolutely nothing would prevent Garcia from fighting for the people of Florida, highlighting her dedication to public service even in challenging circumstances.
Garcia, who represents a district encompassing parts of Miami-Dade County, has been an active voice in Florida’s state legislature on environmental matters.
The video of the incident has since circulated online, capturing the moment Ladapo rushed to Garcia’s aid and the subsequent recovery and return to the podium.
