Sen. John Fetterman’s office said the Pennsylvania Democrat is under “routine observation” at a Pittsburgh hospital after he fell during a morning walk Thursday near his home in Braddock, Pennsylvania.
“It was established that he had an attack of ventricular fibrillation that caused Senator Fetterman to feel dizzy, fall to the ground and hit his face with minor injuries,” a statement from his office said.
“If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!” Fetterman said, according to the statement.
Fetterman opted to remain in the hospital so doctors could “fine-tune his medication regimen,” according to the statement.
Senator John Fetterman speaks to reporters outside the Senate Chamber during the vote on November 10, 2025 at the Capitol in Washington, DC.
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Ventricular fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm, according to the American Heart Association. It can be extremely dangerous and cause sudden cardiac death. Without treatment, it can be fatal within minutes.
Normally, doctor Professionals do not use the term “ventricular fibrillation flare” since the condition is life-threatening. ventricular fibrillation It usually requires shock therapy, either through an automated external defibrillator or previously implanted defibrillation. device on the chest.
Fetterman suffered a stroke in May 2022 during the Democratic primary for the open state Senate seat. Even though his condition limited his campaign, he won the Democratic nomination and then defeated Dr. Mehmet Oz, now administrator of President Donald Trump’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in the general election.
“I had a stroke “This was caused by a clot in my heart that was in atrial fibrillation rhythm for too long,” Fetterman said in a statement at the time.
The following February, Fetterman was hospitalized for several days. observation after feeling dizzy, although his assistants said tests ruled out seizures or another stroke.
Weeks later, Fetterman was admitted to a Washington hospital to be treated for depression.
“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” Adam Jentleson, his chief of staff, said at the time.
Youri Benadjaoud of ABC News contributed to this report.
