In 1995, Michael Jackson Collapsed From an Irregular Heartbeat on Stage: A Look Back at Tragedy

Photo bycommons.wikimedia.org

He was the self-crowned King of Pop and one of the most successful entertainers in history. He was Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 from cardiac arrest induced by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. However, decades before, in 1995, Jackson collapsed on stage at the Beacon Theater in New York during a rehearsal and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

A Closer Look

On December 6, 1995, Michael Jackson was on stage at the Beacon Theater, at 2124 Broadway at 74th Street, in New York, just before 5 P.M. (EDT). He was rehearsing for an HBO TV special with a planned audience of over 250 million viewers worldwide.

The special, titled Michael Jackson: One Night Only, was to tape that Friday and then air on the following Sunday. But the special never happened.

Instead, This Happened

EMS officials said they received a call at 4:51 P.M. EDT from a security guard at the theater who said Jackson was not breathing. Upon their arrival, Jackson was awake and alert.

A preliminary diagnosis uncovered that the superstar had literally fallen victim to dehydration, hypotension, and severely low blood pressure.

Jackson, then only 37 years old, was admitted for an overnight examination to Beth Israel Medical Center North at 170 East End Avenue on the Upper East Side.

Paramedics treated Jackson with an IV and oxygen, and he was eventually stabilized.

Unfortunately, several traumatic medical incidents in Jackson's life before and after this particular development in 1995. None the least of which was his untimely death 14 years later.