Townsend reveals what caused "scary" mid-flight medical emergency

SEN's Chad Townsend has spoken to confirm he is recovering well after being taken off a flight from Sydney to LA by paramedics.

The former Sharks premiership winner fainted two hours into his journey to the USA where is he set to undertake NRL calling duties as the league opens its season in Las Vegas.

Speaking from Sin City to the SEN 1170 Kick Off Show, Townsend took listeners through the scary experience which he insists was due to dehydration and altitude, and not alcohol.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said. "I was sitting in my seat and I started to get holt and cold flushes. I started sweating. I thought 'geez I don’t feel great'.

"I got up to go to the toilet and the next minute I woke up and I was on the floor with an oxygen mask on my face. I was confused as, I didn’t know what had happened.

"I got some oxygen, my blood pressure was through the roof. I was fortunate enough there was a doctor on the aircraft and a nurse helping out. It was Kurt Gidley’s wife, Brooke. I want to thank them both.

"It was a combination of dehydration and the altitude. This has never happened before. We were a couple of hours into the flight, I don’t exactly know the point we were at. It was a bit scary to be honest. I kept the oxygen mask on. As we started to descend into LA my blood pressure came back to normal.

"As we landed, paramedics got on to help me. I walked off the plane myself. I got tested again and I was fine.

"They said ‘you’re fit you’re healthy’ we can only put this down to altitude and dehydration.

"Scary for myself, I’m safe. I’m getting a lot of calls. I've been on the flight from LA to Vegas and I'm here now. I want to let everyone know I am safe and sound.

"This was not alcohol related. It really hit home, a stranger came and helped me, I was so appreciative. He had been to Australia to visit his daughter in Newcastle. Doctor Jimmy, thank you very much."

Chad Townsend will join Jimmy Smith on The Kick Off tomorrow (Friday 27 February) and Monday (2 March) from Vegas and will be part of the commentary team on Sunday with Jimmy Smith and Tim Mannah which can be heard on SEN.