Politician Suffers Stroke During Interview on Live TV Show Broadcast

A Serbian politician suffered a stroke during a live interview.

Darko Glišić — former minister for public investment and a father of two, per his government bio — was appearing on a morning show for Serbian television channel Pink on Tuesday, Aug. 5, when his demeanor changed mid-interview, according to Serbian outlet Vreme and the Daily Mail.

Glišić’s speech slowed and one of his eyes began to close as he attempted to continue his chat with the Pink hosts, per footage from the broadcast, reposted by European outlet Nexta. One side of his face began to droop and his speech sounded slurred — both of which are symptoms of a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The minister, a close associate of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, was hospitalized in “very serious condition” at the Clinical Center of Serbia following the appearance, Vreme reported, citing Serbian newspaper Informer.

He was hospitalized in “an unconscious state and doctors are fighting for his life,” per Vreme.

Another Serbian politician, Zlatibor Lončar, said that upon arriving at the hospital, Glišić had “an extremely complex operation,” which took “longer than expected,” Vreme reported.

Lončar also said that the minister received a visit from Vučić, which the president confirmed on his Instagram account.

“I came to the Clinical Center of Serbia and visited Darko Glišić and for all our people I want to tell one wonderful news. Darko is better, I talked to him,” Vučić said in a video on Instagram, shared Aug. 6 and translated by Vreme.

The president continued, “He’s still struggling a bit, but I can’t describe my joy and his. They cannot beat Serbia. There is no surrender, long live Serbia.”

In the caption, originally penned in Serbian, Vučić added: “Darko is better, thank you all for your concern.”

A day later, on Aug. 7, the president shared another update on Instagram, this time a snap of him holding Glišić’s hand. The minister raised his other hand in a fist as he laid in his hospital bed.

According to the CDC, the treatments for stroke “that work best are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms.” So if symptoms arise, it is best to call 911 and get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

Stroke symptoms include the “sudden” onset of any of the following: “numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body;” “confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech;” “trouble seeing in one or both eyes;” “walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination;” and “severe headache with no known cause.”

A Serbian politician suffered a stroke during a live interview.

Darko Glišić — former minister for public investment and a father of two, per his government bio — was appearing on a morning show for Serbian television channel Pink on Tuesday, Aug. 5, when his demeanor changed mid-interview, according to Serbian outlet Vreme and the Daily Mail.

Glišić’s speech slowed and one of his eyes began to close as he attempted to continue his chat with the Pink hosts, per footage from the broadcast, reposted by European outlet Nexta. One side of his face began to droop and his speech sounded slurred — both of which are symptoms of a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The minister, a close associate of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, was hospitalized in “very serious condition” at the Clinical Center of Serbia following the appearance, Vreme reported, citing Serbian newspaper Informer.

He was hospitalized in “an unconscious state and doctors are fighting for his life,” per Vreme.

Another Serbian politician, Zlatibor Lončar, said that upon arriving at the hospital, Glišić had “an extremely complex operation,” which took “longer than expected,” Vreme reported.

Lončar also said that the minister received a visit from Vučić, which the president confirmed on his Instagram account.

“I came to the Clinical Center of Serbia and visited Darko Glišić and for all our people I want to tell one wonderful news. Darko is better, I talked to him,” Vučić said in a video on Instagram, shared Aug. 6 and translated by Vreme.

The president continued, “He’s still struggling a bit, but I can’t describe my joy and his. They cannot beat Serbia. There is no surrender, long live Serbia.”

In the caption, originally penned in Serbian, Vučić added: “Darko is better, thank you all for your concern.”

A day later, on Aug. 7, the president shared another update on Instagram, this time a snap of him holding Glišić’s hand. The minister raised his other hand in a fist as he laid in his hospital bed.

According to the CDC, the treatments for stroke “that work best are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms.” So if symptoms arise, it is best to call 911 and get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

Stroke symptoms include the “sudden” onset of any of the following: “numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body;” “confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech;” “trouble seeing in one or both eyes;” “walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination;” and “severe headache with no known cause.”