Mayor Bass Gives First Aid To Collapsed Photographer At Press Conference

LOS ANGELES, CA — Mayor Karen Bass played the hero this week when a photographer at a press conference collapsed and hit his head.

The dramatic incident, which was captured on camera, happened Thursday at a recruit graduation ceremony at the Los Angeles Police Department's Elysian Park Training Academy. The photographer, who suffered a medical emergency remained hospitalized but in recovery Friday, the mayor's office confirmed.

Livestreamed video from the graduation ceremony shows LAPD Chief Michel Moore addressing the crowd with Bass standing in the background. However, she jumps into action in response to commotion off screen.

"I'm proud of this department's progress under the Mayor Bass leadership and support," said Moore before Bass puts up her hand to interrupt him, saying "Oh, woah," and rushing to the photographers side.

According to KNX News Radio reporter Craig Fiegener, the mayor was the first person to begin providing firs aid.

In video he posted to X, viewers can see th Bass, a former physician assistant with a degree in health sciences, take charge.

The mayor and others rolled the photographer onto his side, according to a representative of Bass' office, who was also in attendance of the news conference. The mayor continued to check his pulse and ensured the man was breathing.

The mayor's office said an ambulance arrived to take the man to a nearby hospital. Bass' team checked up on the man Friday, and it was reported to them that he was doing better.

Details surrounding the cause of the man's medical emergency were not immediately available.

City News Service AND patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.