ABC star Nate Byrne has spoken candidly about the cause of his panic attack on television this week.
The News Breakfast weatherman had to interrupt his report mid-broadcast on Tuesday morning after suffering an anxiety attack while live on air.
Appears on the Carrie and Tommy On a popular TV show on Thursday, Nate revealed that his panic attack was caused by standing in front of the “weather wall.”
“It’s very, very different for me and luckily for me it’s only when I’m in that one place, which should be my safest place,” he admitted.
“It’s my favorite place in the world to be at the weather wall and do my thing. But [it only happens] when I’m in front of the camera.’
Nate also said he was surprised when he started suffering from panic attacks “about four or five years ago,” especially given his previous career as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy.
“For me, it was about five years ago when I was in my 30s. I was in the military and deployed to active war zones. I’ve never been an anxious person,” Nate said, before describing how the problem first surfaced.
“A couple of years after I was on TV, one day I was told to come to the studio quickly. They needed me right now. So I ran in, got to the weather wall and I was just a little out of breath.”
ABC star Nate Byrne has opened up about the source of his anxiety after suffering a panic attack on TV this week
‘It was only a 20-minute run, but I really took off. Then the camera came down on me and I was trying to control my breathing so I could use the right presenter’s voice.
“I think at that point I just forgot how to breathe properly and I was kind of depriving my brain of oxygen.”
Nate then revealed that this incident was just a taste of what was to come. His first full-blown panic attack occurred “15 to 20 minutes later.”
“We have found ways to manage it,” he added.
“The thing for me is that I obviously can’t get off camera, but I do this little thing when I need to. I just dig my little thumbnail into the side of my finger — not enough to do any damage, but just enough to give me a point of concentration.”
“For me it’s a great way to cope with the situation, but it’s different for everyone.”
Nate also praised radio host Carrie Bickmore for talking about her own struggle with anxiety on her show this week.
Nate, who appeared on the Carrie and Tommy radio show on Thursday, revealed that being on camera triggered his panic attack. Pictured is host Carrie Bickmore
Nate had to interrupt his report midway through Tuesday morning’s broadcast after he suffered a panic attack during the live broadcast.
He ended his broadcast just before 6:30 a.m., telling viewers, “I have to stop for a moment.”
In a trembling voice, he told viewers: ‘Some of you may know that I suffer from panic attacks from time to time, and I am having that now.’
“Lisa (Millar), maybe I can give it back to you.”
Co-host Lisa quickly took over the broadcast, while Nate recovered off-screen.
Nate has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety – publish an article in 2022 in which he documented his experiences with panic attacks on television.
The weatherman was later welcomed back to the show and apologized for his absence.
“I’m sorry if I scared anyone,” he said.
Nate was forced to interrupt his report midway through Tuesday morning’s broadcast after he suffered a panic attack during the live broadcast