The cameraman who collapsed during a live “CBS Evening News” broadcast in Taiwan had been deployed from Tokyo on short notice ahead of anchor Tony Dokoupil’s coverage of President Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sources told The Post.
In what Dokoupil called a “medical emergency” Wednesday on air, the video journalist identified by sources as Randy Schmidt fainted while shooting the broadcast, which was set in Taiwan’s capital Taipei for Trump’s trip to Beijing, sources said.
The network, which didn’t identify Schmidt, said in a social media post that the cameraman was “OK and recovering.”
Schmidt, who previously worked in CBS News’ shuttered Tokyo bureau, helped last-minute preparations for the broadcast before his fainting spell, sources said.
While one critic claimed he had worked a 24-hour shift before collapsing, a CBS News source close to the network disputed that characterization, saying Schmidt “definitely had downtime” and rested overnight before the broadcast.
The CBS source close to the network said Schmidt was informed at 7 a.m. Wednesday in Tokyo that he would be heading to Taiwan for the assignment after the network failed to secure Dokoupil a visa to enter mainland China during the high-stakes US-China summit.
Schmidt boarded a 2 p.m. flight from Tokyo and landed in Taiwan at 5:05 p.m. local time, according to a CBS News source close to the network.
He arrived at his hotel around 7 p.m., the source said.
Tokyo is just one hour ahead of Taipei, though Taiwan is 12 hours ahead of New York City. Dokoupil’s broadcast went on the air starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The alarming incident unfolded during the closing moments of the program.
As Dokoupil wrapped a segment discussing tensions between China and Taiwan, a crash was suddenly heard off-camera.
“You will hear a lot about the rise of a powerful new China — is he okay?” Dokoupil said as stunned crew members remained silent.
“We’re gonna take a quick break. We have a medical emergency here,” the anchor continued. “We’re calling a doctor.”
The broadcast immediately cut away to CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman back in New York.
The CBS source close to the network said a local producer and fixer was physically with Schmidt from the start, additional crew members arrived before airtime and Schmidt remained in constant communication with CBS operations staff in London throughout the setup.
The source close to the network added that Schmidt brought his own broadcast equipment from Tokyo — standard practice for freelancers — and was paid extra because CBS used his gear for the assignment.
A CBS source close to the network said freelancers typically travel with eight to 10 equipment cases, though Schmidt himself traveled with three gear cases and two carry-on bags for the Taiwan deployment.
A driver hired by CBS helped transport some of the equipment from the airport, according to the network source.
The Post has sought comment from CBS News and Schmidt.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
