Nine News newsreader Peter Hitchener has opened up about his struggle with migraines after falling ill live on-air earlier this year.
The 75-year-old veteran newsreader was in the middle of reading Melbourne's 6pm news bulletin in March when he was crippled by a migraine and had to be replaced.
Speaking to 9news.com.au, Hitchener recalled the frightening moment when the migraine took hold that evening.
"It was so scary, I realised what was happening when it started to happen," he said.
"I was hoping to get to the commercial break and get someone to take over, but we didn't quite get there."
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The newsreader said he had a headache about half an hour before going on air, but thought he would be fine after it improved.
It wasn't until he was in the middle of the bulletin when "jagged kaleidoscope vision" took over, impeding on his ability to read the news.
"I thought thank goodness I can do the news and not have to struggle," he said.
"However, I got into the news, did the first break ok and then it just went."
Sport newsreader Clint Stanaway stepped in to replace Hitchener mid-way through the bulletin.
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About 4.9 million Australians experience migraines, according to a 2018 Deloitte Access Economics Report.
Statistics show 23 per cent of Aussie households contain at least one person who suffers from migraines.
Hitchener suffered from his first migraine about three years ago and has experienced a handful since then.
He told 9news.com.au his migraines don't last very long, typically experiencing jagged vision for up to 20 minutes coupled with "difficult reading syndrome" for four to five minutes.
"My migraines don't cause any pain," he said.
"I just have distorted vision. I can't see properly and in extreme cases, I just can't even read or speak properly, or make sense of what I am reading.
"Then I'm pretty much back to normal."
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https://twitter.com/phitchener9/status/1376720397157076992Hitchener has been seeing a neurologist to help manage the condition, going to the hospital following his migraine on-air.
He said he has received an overwhelming amount of support from colleagues, friends, fans and the community since the incident.
"I felt terrible, you don't want to wreck the news. We got through it and people were lovely," he said.
"I went to the hospital that night and the neurologist was very supportive and made sure I had not had a stroke or a heart attack."
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The newsreader is taking a number of measures to help prevent his migraines, including wearing tinted contact lenses to mitigate the studio's bright lights.
"One of the things to avoid for me is bright lights, which is part of the gig for me," Hitchener said.
"Bright lights and patterns seem to trigger them.
"Another thing that doesn't help is stress and we were dealing with a difficult situation with technical difficulties that night and that didn't really help."
Hitchener finds shutting himself in a dark room for 15 minutes helps to alleviate his migraines. He also must ensure he stays hydrated.
"Hopefully there won't be any more for a while," he said.
"I am taking it very seriously now and try to make sure I do the right thing."
See Peter Hitchener weeknights on Nine News Melbourne at 6pm.
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