Ex-Premier Of Italy Faints During a Speech
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ROME — A former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, fainted during a speech yesterday.
When he came round, the 70-year-old billionaire made light of the situation, joking to the bearded Giuseppe Papaccioli: “Who are you? Osama bin Laden?” A few hours after the scare, Mr. Berlusconi said he was going to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital after tests had showed a minor heart problem.
The press and broadcast tycoon said: “They found something on the electrocardiogram, something like an irregular heartbeat, so they want to keep me under observation for 24 hours.”
Mr. Berlusconi was speaking at a meeting of youth clubs at Montecatini Terme in Tuscany when his eyes glazed over, he was unable to speak, and he clutched the microphone stand for support. His aides carried him off stage, as his supporters wailed loudly.
His press secretary, Paolo Bonaiuti, said Mr. Berlusconi came round quickly and was soon back to his old self.
