Video: Barack Obama catches fainting woman during press conference

The President quips: 'This happens when I talk too long'

U.S. President Barack Obama reached out to help Affordable Care Act beneficiary Karmel Allison, who began to faint during the president's speech (Reuters)

President Obama interrupted a press conference addressing his controversial healthcare policy to catch a pregnant woman who was on the verge of fainting.

In a speech at the White House Rose Garden, Mr Obama was outlining the administration’s struggle with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, when a woman – named as San Diego resident Karmel Allison - appeared to lose consciousness behind him.

In a prelude summing up the act, Mr Obama said: "That's why we fought so hard to pass this law, to give people who don't have health insurance the chance to get it for the first time, to lift from the American people the crushing burden of unaffordable healthcare, to free families from the pervasive fear that one illness...."

At this point, Ms Allison swayed and seemed to struggle to stay on her feet. Mr Obama turned to her and reached out, saying, "I got you, you're OK."

Turning back to reporters, the President quipped: "This happens when I talk too long."
The White House said Allison was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was nine years old.

She later Tweeted: “I'm ok world - just got a little lightheaded. Thanks, @BarackObama for catching me!”