John Fetterman hospitalized after heart-related fall outside home leaves him with facial injuries

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA: Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) was hospitalized Thursday (November 13) after a fall near his home left him with minor facial injuries, his spokesperson announced on X.

Medical staff later determined that the incident, which began with Fetterman,56, feeling light-headed, was triggered by a flare-up of ventricular fibrillation, a serious cardiac condition.

What happened to John Fetterman?

Fetterman’s spokesperson announced on social media that the 6-foot-8 senator fell near his home in Braddock, just east of Pittsburgh.

The X post began, “Statement from Sen. Fetterman’s Spokesperson: During an early morning walk, Senator Fetterman sustained a fall near his home in Braddock." It added, "Out of an abundance of caution, he was transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh." Doctors are monitoring Fetterman in the hospital after an irregular heartbeat flare-up led to a fall that injured his face.

The statement continued, “Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries."

The Cleveland Clinic, a US-based medical research group, explains that ventricular fibrillation is an arrhythmia, meaning the heart beats in an abnormal rhythm. In this condition, the heart’s lower chambers fire rapidly and chaotically, which stops them from pumping blood effectively throughout the body.

Doctors typically trace the cause to underlying heart diseases, an electric shock, or an imbalance in the body’s electrolytes.

The senator also joked in a statement released by his office spokesperson: “Senator Fetterman had this to say: ‘If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!’”

The senator’s team confirmed, “He is doing well and receiving routine observation at the hospital. He has opted to stay so doctors can fine-tune his medication regimen.” The spokesperson concluded the statement with a message of gratitude from the senator: “Senator Fetterman is grateful for the EMTs, doctors, and nurses who are providing his care."

John Fetterman faced a near-fatal stroke in 2022

Fetterman suffered a near-fatal stroke in May 2022 that forced him off the campaign trail. He spent nine days in the hospital and underwent three hours of heart surgery.

He later returned to win his competitive Senate race in the midterms, defeating Mehmet Oz, the celebrity surgeon backed by Donald Trump. His win gave Democrats a slim Senate majority for the final two years of the Biden administration.

In 2023, he checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for treatment for clinical depression.

Earlier this week, he released 'Unfettered,' a memoir he describes as honest and personal, where he writes about his continuing mental health struggles and how they have affected his family. 

“Depression is bipartisan,” he told independent media co-founder Katie Couric in a recent podcast interview. “It doesn't check: 'Hey, are you a Republican? Are you rural? Are your urban? Are you liberal'. It happens to anybody.”

Fetterman has built a reputation on Capitol Hill as a straightforward, hoodie-wearing centrist Democrat who often challenges his own party. In 'Unfettered,' he calls himself “the consummate anti-politician.” Earlier this week, he joined a small group of Senate Democrats who voted to end the longest US government shutdown.

“I’m sorry to our military, SNAP recipients, government workers, and Capitol Police who haven’t been paid in weeks,” he said. Throughout the past month, he repeatedly pushed to reopen the government, casting 15 votes to end the shutdown.