U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is back at work after collapsing Wednesday morning at a road race in Washington, D.C. Initial reports said Tillis received CPR, but the senator refuted that in a Twitter video from the hospital and released a second video on YouTube from Capitol Hill.In the second video, Tillis said he was “back, ready to get to work” and given a clean bill of health.
In the earlier video posted on Twitter, Tillis said he did not receive CPR after collapsing during the ACLI Capital Challenge 3 Mile Tea Race, saying he “got overheated.”
I’m doing well. Looking forward to getting back to work. Thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes. #CapChallenge pic.twitter.com/uQGQp85qzR
Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) May 17, 2017
The Associated Press tweeted Wednesday morning that Tillis collapsed during a race, received CPR and was transported by ambulance.
BREAKING: Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina collapses during DC race, gets CPR, taken away in ambulance.
The Associated Press (@AP) May 17, 2017
Tills, 56, is serving his first term in the U.S. Senate, having defeated incumbent Kay Hagan in the 2014 election. He was previously speaker of the N.C. House Representatives from 2011-15. A Republican from Mecklenburg County, Tillis was born in Jacksonville, Fla., and was an executive with IBM prior to entering the political realm.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and fellow U.S. Sen. Richard Burr each sent their support to Tillis via Twitter:
My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Tillis and his family. – RC
Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) May 17, 2017
My thoughts and prayers are with @SenThomTillis and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) May 17, 2017
Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, in an interview with North State Journal, also wished his best to Tillis.
“My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” Forest said. “Glad to hear that he seems to be doing OK, but obviously when anything like that happens it’s scary.”
