Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were left "shocked" after a guest on This Morning collapsed off-air. The presenters had been speaking to Samuel Carvalho about his medical condition, which causes him to collapse unexpectedly, when he passed out.
The 22-year-old finished his interview but as he was leaving the studio, he collapsed. Reappearing after the commercial break, a concerned Holly and Phil updated viewers.
© Photo: ITV"As soon as left the studio, he was absolutely flat out," Phil explained
"Little bit shocked at the moment," said Phil. "We were just chatting to Samuel who said, as he got up, 'Thank goodness I managed to get through the interview without passing out.' He's fine, he's got a paramedic with him now, but as soon as left the studio, he was absolutely flat out."
Holly and Phil triumph at the NTAs
Samuel spoke to Holly and Phil about his medical condition, which doctors have been unable to cure or diagnose. About eight years ago, Samuel had one to three blackouts a year. But recently the collapses have intensified to a few a week, or even a few a day. They can last for as long as 30 seconds to ten minutes.
© Photo: ITVThe pair heard about Samuel's unusual medical condition
Samuel was appearing on Monday morning's show with his adorable dog Lola, who is trained to sense when a collapse is coming on. Speaking about his decision to train the black Labrador, Samuel said: "It was a gamble but she's definitely sensing something. She gives you a second or two warning, but if you don't catch that, she's back to being a playful puppy."
"She can lie across my feet," he explained. "If I'm sitting on the floor she likes to burrow under my knees to stay there, to sort of keep me there. If I'm wandering around, she'll stay glued to me, she won't let me out of her sight.
© Photo: RexSamuel's dog Lola can sense when he's about to collapse
"If I collapse she likes to bring me round, which is why it's the equivalent of having a paramedic shaking your shoulders. She won't leave me."
Holly and Phil's most emotional moments of 2016
Samuel has been walking down a main road when he's collapsed and fallen into the road. He now relies on Lola, and his girlfriend Ashley, to help him go about his daily routine.
