Well-known Virgin Islands newscaster Alvin "Alvin Gee" Southwell collapsed at the microphone Thursday morning while delivering the morning news on WLDV 107.9 FM, the station where he is news director.
According to station management, Southwell suffered what appeared to be a drop in his blood glucose level and he began to experience diabetic coma.
"Persons who were listening to the news heard when Alvin stopped reporting and the station went silent," station manager and co-owner Sheldon Turnbull said on the station’s "In the Morning" show shortly after 7 a.m.
Turnbull said what was heard on their air was particularly odd and he too began calling on St. Croix residents to rush to the station and see if assistance was needed.
"There was a tremendous turnout by both EMS and police to assist Alvin Gee in his moment of distress. I had an EMT on the phone with me and we were guiding persons in the studio on how best to render help until the paramedics arrived," Turnbull added, expressing his gratitude to all who rushed to the aid of the veteran newsman and all who "called, texted or otherwise expressed their concern having heard Alvin’s medical emergency while on the air this morning."
Late Thursday afternoon, station personnel said Southwell was at the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital undergoing a battery of tests following the medical emergency.
Turnbull described Southwell as a tenacious reporter who "works the long hours to get the story right and to present the most balanced, concise and up-to-the-minute newscast heard across the territory." As Alvin Gee, Southwell hosts a one-hour newscast, "V.I. News Now," on 107.9 FM twice a day Monday through Friday.
His moniker “Alvin Gee” is name is synonymous with news reporting in the Virgin Islands. Based on St. Croix, Southwell has spent decades in the Virgin Islands at several radio stations reporting on the happening across the territory. WLDV operates dual studio sites on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
