Essendon great James Hird has been taken to hospital after becoming unwell during Tuesday night's episode of Footy Classified.
Hird could be heard clearing his throat and spluttering during the opening segment of the show. The 53-year-old reportedly excused himself to vomit during the first ad break before returning to finish recording the program.
Hird then took himself to hospital after the show wrapped up.
Footy Classified host Eddie McGuire told News Corp that Hird had a piece of food blocking his esophagus.
"James did the show and went to emergency," McGuire said. "They gave him a general anaesthetic, put a tube down his throat and found a piece of lamb that was apparently blocking his esophagus. It was like he was drowning because the saliva couldn't get through."
McGuire added that Hird was out of hospital, and praised his professionalism for finishing the show.
Hird will be back on the tools on Wednesday to film an episode of Footy Furnace with co-host Jimmy Bartel.
