Essendon legend James Hird was rushed to hospital on Tuesday night after choking on a piece of lamb during a live broadcast of Footy Classified. The 53-year-old began coughing and spluttering just minutes into the show, forcing him to leave the set during the first ad break to vomit.
Hird later revealed that a piece of food had become lodged in his throat, obstructing his breathing. 'The show started and within two minutes, I couldn't breathe,' he told News Corp. He managed to finish the episode before heading to hospital.
At the hospital, Hird was placed under general anaesthetic for a 30-minute procedure to remove the lamb from his esophagus. 'I was home by 2am and back to feeling 100 per cent,' he said.
Footy Classified host Eddie McGuire described the incident as frightening, noting that Hird's saliva couldn't pass the blockage. 'It was like he was drowning,' McGuire said. He praised Hird for completing the show despite the ordeal.
Hird is expected to return to work on Wednesday to film an episode of Footy Furnace with co-host Jimmy Bartel. He has been a regular on Channel 9's AFL programs since joining the network in late 2024.
