"Almost suffocated"

Schlager singer collapses during ORF show

Pia Vanelly has to undergo further examinations in hospital after experiencing physical complaints with shortness of breath.(Bild: der photograph.com- Gerhard und Meinrad Kampitsch)

For Austrian pop singer Pia Vanelly, the dress rehearsal for the open-air pop show "Wenn die Musi spielt" in Bad Kleinkirchheim in Carinthia ended in hospital. This was because she suddenly felt short of breath. A visitor to the event finally called the ambulance.

On Friday, the dress rehearsal of the pop event was well attended in the VIP area, where numerous stars came together to listen to their colleagues or to network. For pop singer Vanelly, however, the evening took an unpleasant turn, as she reported in an interview with the online medium "5 Minuten".

Vanelly: "I almost suffocated!"
She had briefly been outside on the grounds watching the artists when she suddenly felt physical discomfort and wanted to rest in the VIP area. But she didn't make it that far: "I suddenly couldn't take another step and couldn't breathe," Vanelly described the scenario. The feeling of breathlessness was also noticeable: "I thought my lungs were collapsing, I was almost suffocating!"

During the dress rehearsal of "Wenn die Musi spielt", the pop singer suddenly couldn't breathe.(Bild: Pia Vanelly I Foto4fun)

Visitor made an emergency call
When a visitor noticed her collapse, he set the rescue chain in motion. After being treated by first aiders, the pop singer was flown by helicopter to Villach Regional Hospital.

According to her own statements, she was unaware of the helicopter flight. Further examinations are now pending at the hospital: "I'll have to stay in hospital for a few more days because it was very acute, but I'll be fine," Vanelly tells "5 Minuten". The singer would like to say a big thank you to the paramedics: "They did a fantastic job looking after me!" she explained gratefully.