President Barack Obama helped catch a fainting woman who was standing behind him during his speech on the Affordable Care Act on Monday.
The incident happened near the end of his address. Obama was wrapping up his defense on his health-care law when a dark-haired woman in a red dress nearly collapsed. The woman's name is Karmel Allison and is 20 weeks pregnant and has been diagnosed with diabetes.
Allison said she had not drunk enough water before the outdoor event, according to Business Insider, and eventually began to feel faint.
"I was, obviously, thrilled and honored to be on stage with the president, but was not looking forward to being the one who faints behind the president," Allison told CNN. "It was sort of an unexpected turn of events yesterday."
As she collapsed, the president and several other people reached out to steady her.
"You're okay. I'm right here," Obama said. "I got you."
"This happens when I talk too long," Obama quipped while Allison was escorted from the area around the podium.
Allison said she attended the press conference because she wrote a blog post about her experience with type 1 diabetes and the coverage she will now receive through Obamacare.
She told Business Insider she had not actually signed up for Obamacare yet, or attempted to. But she has looked at whether she would be able to make use of the law given she has a pre-existing condition.
"My husband and I are reviewing our options, not that we have other options," she said.
When she appeared on CNN's "Piers Morgan Live" Monday night, Allison, who said she was "extremely embarrassed" after the incident, added that the president checked up on her.
"He asked how I was doing, made sure I was okay and I, mean, I was extremely appreciative of that," she said.
According to Politico, pressure on the administration to provide more details about the problems of HealthCare.gov are increasing is one of the reasons Obama held the press conference.
