Presenter's On-Air Seizure
BBC Presenter Steve Crossman Reveals On-Air Seizure While Covering World Cup in Mexico
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Key Points
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Crossman plans to run the 2027 London Marathon to raise funds for the Epilepsy Society, in memory of his late sister Jill.
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He revealed the seizure struck shortly after arriving in Mexico for the World Cup, but he persisted with the broadcast and praised his 5 Live colleagues for support.
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He was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2013, after experiencing his first ‘proper seizure’ in 2012.
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In a 2024 5 Live Breakfast segment, Crossman said 'Epilepsy is not just seizures' and highlighted the substantial mental health impact of the condition.
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The World Cup coverage Crossman is reporting from spans the United States, Canada and Mexico, illustrating the multinational scope of the event.
BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Steve Crossman suffered an epileptic seizure while broadcasting live from Mexico during the 2026 World Cup, he revealed on June 25 The Mirror. Crossman, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2013, said the seizure struck shortly after he landed in Mexico — but he stayed on air and finished the broadcast The Sun.
Crossman later posted on X that he was surrendering his driving licence to the DVLA, as UK law requires anyone who has a seizure to be seizure-free for 12 months before driving again Entertainment Daily. He praised his "amazing @5liveSport friends" for their support throughout the ordeal.
He Stayed on Air, Inspired by His Late Sister
Crossman said he "stuck it out" in Mexico, drawing strength from the memory of his sister Jill Daily Star. Jill also lived with epilepsy and died in 2021 from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, known as SUDEP, in her sleep. SUDEP affects roughly 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy each year and is the leading cause of death among those with uncontrolled seizures The Mirror.
This is not the first time Crossman has faced a seizure in a high-pressure setting. In August 2016, he suffered a major tonic-clonic seizure — a full convulsive episode — while covering the Rio Olympics. He described being conscious for the first 10 seconds and feeling his "brain shutting down" as people around him screamed OK Magazine.
A Long History of Speaking Openly About Epilepsy
Crossman first had a major seizure in 2012 and received his official epilepsy diagnosis in 2013 Head Topics. Since then, he has used his public platform to challenge common myths about the condition. In a 2024 segment on 5 Live Breakfast during National Epilepsy Week, he said plainly: "Epilepsy is not just seizures." He stressed the heavy mental health toll the condition places on patients and their families Entertainment Daily.
Around 633,000 people in the UK live with epilepsy — roughly 1 in 100 — and about 80 new cases are diagnosed every single day The Mirror. Despite how common it is, only 33.3% of people with epilepsy are currently in employment, one of the lowest rates for any disability group in the UK.
Driving Licence Surrender Puts Legal Reality in the Spotlight
Crossman publicly confirmed he would post his driving licence to the DVLA on June 26, the day after revealing his seizure Entertainment Daily. Under UK law, a person must go 12 full months without a seizure before they can legally drive again. Crossman's open commitment to following the rules drew an outpouring of support online. One fan wrote: "You are such an excellent broadcaster and come across as a thoroughly decent bloke" Daily Star.
Others who live with epilepsy shared their own stories of licence surrenders and job losses in the replies OK Magazine. The incident has reignited debate about workplace safety for people with chronic neurological conditions. Under the UK's Equality Act, employers must make "reasonable adjustments" for employees with epilepsy, such as flexible hours to manage fatigue — a known seizure trigger.
Marathon Plans Turn Personal Crisis Into a Fundraising Mission
Rather than stepping back, Crossman is channelling this experience into action. He has committed to running the 2027 London Marathon to raise money for the Epilepsy Society, in memory of Jill Daily Star. The Epilepsy Society estimates epilepsy costs the NHS around £2 billion a year, accounting for roughly 100,000 emergency hospital admissions annually.
Crossman confirmed he will return to the UK on Friday before heading back to continue his World Cup duties Entertainment Daily. The 2026 World Cup spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico — a huge logistical challenge for any broadcaster. His continued presence on air, despite a live seizure, has been widely called a display of remarkable professionalism by fans and colleagues alike Head Topics.
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