ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop expressed his gratitude for the support he received from friends and family after collapsing live on air during an exhibition match between Real Madrid and AC Milan at the Rose Bowl on Sunday night. Hislop stated that he would be seeking medical advice from his doctor regarding the incident.
In a video statement on Monday, Hislop began by acknowledging the surreal nature of the past 24 hours. He expressed his appreciation for his wife, kids, family, and friends, as well as all the people he has met throughout his career. He thanked those who reached out to him, whether directly or indirectly, and mentioned that his next step is to seek the best medical opinion available.
The incident occurred while Hislop was on camera with co-host Dan Thomas just before the start of the match. Hislop stumbled and fell towards his partner, prompting Thomas to immediately signal for medical staff to assist him on the field.
The match went ahead as scheduled, with Thomas later confirming on social media that Hislop remained conscious and under medical care. At halftime, Thomas went on air to reiterate this information, noting that it was still too early for a medical diagnosis.
In concluding his statement, Hislop expressed gratitude towards Dan, the ESPN family, camera operators, and the medical staff at the Rose Bowl. He thanked them for their quick response and the care he received.
Shaka Hislop had a successful career as a goalkeeper in England, representing clubs such as West Ham, Newcastle, Portsmouth, as well as the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He joined ESPN as an analyst in 2008 and is a regular contributor for ESPN FC.
