BREAKING NEWS

Minnesota governor collapses while addressing legislators

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton collapsed on Monday while delivering his state-of-the-state address to legislators in St. Paul, but aides said afterward that Dayton quickly recovered from what they described as a fainting spell and returned home.
A video clip from official statehouse footage posted on YouTube showed the 69-year-old, silver-haired governor pausing to take a sip of water, then slurring his words as he tried to resume his address before slumping at the lectern.
He appeared to hit his forehead on the lectern as he lost his footing and aides rushed to grab him. Gasps rose from the assembly hall and someone was heard saying, "Get him to the ground, get him to the ground, please."
Lawmakers immediately adjourned the session while Dayton, a member of the Democratic-affiliated Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, was attended to.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune said Dayton appeared to be seated upright and aware some moments afterward.
The episode came about 40 minutes into Dayton's speech to a joint session of the state legislature, according to a statement released by his chief of staff, Scott Kendall.
"He quickly recovered, walked out of the Capitol and turned home," Kendall said, adding that emergency medical technicians met Dayton at his home and performed a "routine check" on him there.