Claims COVID vaccines are behind on-air collapses fall flat

What was Claimed

A video features several clips of athletes and TV presenters collapsing - and in some cases dying - as a result of COVID vaccination.

Our Verdict

False. The incidents are unrelated to the COVID vaccine.

A video montage showing athletes and television presenters collapsing is being presented as evidence that young people are dying due to the effects of COVID-19 vaccines. 

The claim is false. The montage features televised incidents of sportspeople and reporters collapsing in circumstances unrelated to COVID vaccines. One case presented is from 2017, three years before the pandemic.

The one-minute montage features in this Facebook post (archived here). The post text says: "It all started in 2021 and we simply want to know, what happened? What is causing these excess deaths?" 

Voiceovers throughout the video refer to “sudden adult death syndrome”, “healthy young people … dying” and “unexplained deaths”, however none of the footage is of people dying.

The video also cuts to headlines from UK-based misinformation website The Expose (15secs and 22secs). The headlines refer to previously debunked figures on supposed athlete deaths following vaccination.

The montage can be traced back to a longer video on YouTube by comedian-turned-commentator Russell Brand, titled "Is this why young people are collapsing?"

Football player
Footage of sportspeople collapsing on-field is being misrepresented as related to COVID vaccines.

Brand links the incidents to COVID vaccines before introducing the montage as "people dropping dead on sports fields" (5min 15secs).

The first clip is of England footballer Rachel Daly collapsing from heat exhaustion in a game in 2017, three years before the pandemic.

The montage also features Danish footballer Christian Eriksen (5min 34sec Brand's video), who suffered a cardiac arrest during an international match in 2021.

At the time he was unvaccinated, according to his club's medical staff. He certainly didn't "drop dead" as is claimed and now plays for Manchester United.

Adama Traore, who is shown falling to the floor at 5min 22sec also went on to make a full recovery and now plays in the Hungarian league.

At 5min 23sec is footage of then-19-year-old British tennis player Jack Draper collapsing in hot conditions at the Miami Open in March 2021. 

The same clip is embedded in this online report. The collapse was explained as a heat-related illness

Melbourne AFL player Jake Lever is shown fainting during training in 2021 (5min 26sec). Lever himself explained he had pushed himself too far: "I ran a PB (personal best) for both my first few times so maybe I went a little too hard". 

Jake Lever
Footage of Melbourne AFL player Jake Lever fainting after a hard training session was also included.

At 5min 46sec is footage of critical care nurse Tiffany Dover collapsing during a media conference after receiving the vaccine in 2020. Conspiracy theorists at the time claimed Dover was dead but, very much alive, she subsequently explained she had a pain response that made her pass out.

German TV morning show host Clara Pfeffer is seen fainting on air at 5min 48sec. Claims the collapse was caused by the vaccine were debunked here and Pfeffer said in a tweet (in German) that in future she would have a good breakfast before work. 

At 5min 49sec Israeli reporter Doron Herman is shown collapsing on camera. The incident happened in August 2020 - before the first vaccines were rolled out. He later explained the collapse was caused by heat exhaustion

Motorcycle racing champion Pedro Acosta is shown collapsing at a function (5min 51sec). 

Acosta explained later that he had suffered a fever before the event and was stressed by the number of media at the function, causing a dizzy spell. 

At 5min 53sec Brazilian journalist Rafael Silva is seen collapsing. Silva subsequently explained his on-air incident was caused by a congenital heart problem.

The montage also features former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan (5min 56 secs) speaking at a 2021 press conference.

While it is made to appear as if he is talking about a delayed response to COVID vaccines, the full video of the press conference reveals he is talking about a delayed reaction to the COVID infection. 

A similar claim has been debunked here

The Verdict

The claim that a video features several clips of athletes and TV presenters collapsing - and in some cases dying - as a result of COVID vaccination is false.

The causes of the incidents are unrelated to the COVID vaccine. At least one clip predates the pandemic and others featured were unvaccinated at the time.

False — The claim is inaccurate.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store