Worrying moment Commonwealth Games star appears to faint as broadcaster cuts away

Team England star Chris Murray recovered from hitting the deck in worrying scenes to scoop a bronze medal in Sunday night’s 79kg weightlifting final.

The 27-year-old looked to have fainted after attempting to clear 174kg on his second attempt in his quest to secure back-to-back Commonwealth Games gold medals.

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Murray scooped the gold in Birmingham four years ago in the 81kg event.

He even set a Games record after lifting a combined 325kg.

Scary scenes

But he was involved in a scary incident this time around in Glasgow – forcing event staff to immediately surround him.

A sheet was also raised to protect his privacy, while broadcaster TNT Sports moved to a wide shot to avoid showing any potential distress.

As Murray looked to hoist the weight above his head, he aborted midway through – dropping the bar to the floor.

He then briefly staggered before falling to his knees – leaning on the weight in an attempt to keep his balance.

And as staff sprinted over to assist Murray, he then slumbered over onto his back.

While many fans would have been watching on in panic, TNT commentator Michaela Breeze explained that the situation is nothing uncommon.

A sudden drop in blood pressure left Murray needing to get oxygen back into his brain.

Retired weightlifter Breeze – a four-time Commonwealth Games medallist – said: “He’s OK.

“Just needs to undo the [weight] belt, get the oxygen in.”

The 63kg gold medallist in 2006 then added: “Not what we want to see, but he’s absolutely fine.

“Nothing to worry about, just a bit of oxygen to the brain.

“If he’s got any sense he’ll stay down for a moment, a few extra seconds before going off.

“Any extra seconds he can get now to recover will be beneficial.”

Applauded by fans after walking off the stage to recover, Murray was later seen drinking water, before bravely returning five minutes after the incident.

Getty

Getty

And he this time cleared a total of 177kg – three kilos more than his previous attempt which he failed to lift.

It took him into the lead, though he was later pipped to the gold and silver medal by Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad and India’s Valluri Ajaya Babu respectively.

But Murray was left buzzing by his bronze medal having overcome two years of injury hell.

He said: “The last Games was a mental challenge, this one was a physical one.

“It’s just good to be back lifting relatively pain free after a number of injuries.

“I won’t lie, it aches a bit already, but that’s nothing a few beers won’t fix.

“Lifting 325kg won me Commonwealth gold in 2022, so I can’t complain. I’m really, really happy.

“I’m buzzing, it’s obviously not the colour I wanted, I would have loved to have gone back to back but two very worthy people to have beaten me.”

He then added: “I’m walking away pain free, injury free and I’m just looking forward to the next block.”