Clinton falls ill at memorial ceremony

NEW YORK (Reuters) – US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton fell ill on Sunday as she became “overheated” and had to leave early from a September 11 memorial ceremony in New York City.

Clinton, 68, was taken to her daughter Chelsea’s home in Manhattan, and emerged a few hours later wearing sunglasses and telling reporters that she was “feeling great.”

The news of her overheating on the hot, muggy New York morning comes less than 60 days before the November 8 presidential election, and at a time of intense campaigning against Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton went, as previously planned, to her home in Chappaqua, New York, 50 km. north of New York City.

Clinton left the memorial event after about 90 minutes while it was still under way, said Nick Merrill, a Clinton spokesman.

“During the ceremony, she felt overheated, so she departed to go to her daughter’s apartment, and is feeling much better,” Merrill said in a statement.

As the solemn event began on Sunday at the site of the World Trade Center, which was attacked by two hijacked airliners 15 years ago, there was patchy sunlight, with temperatures at about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6 Celsius). But the high humidity caused it to feel

much hotter in the crowd at times.

Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley of New York, a Clinton supporter w ho attended the event, told Reuters that it was “incredibly, stiflingly hot” during the ceremony.

After some US media reported she had fallen ill, reporters traveling with Clinton did not get an immediate response from the campaign to questions about her whereabouts and her health. About 90 minutes elapsed before the campaign issued its statement.

Trump has repeatedly raised questions about Clinton’s health and whether she has the “stamina” to serve as president.

In December 2012, Clinton suffered a concussion and shortly afterward developed a blood clot.

In a letter released by her doctor in July, Clinton was described as being in “excellent health” and “fit to serve” in the White House. It noted that her current medical conditions include hyperthyroidism and seasonal pollen allergies.

Trump, 70, has also been under pressure to release detailed information on his health and medical history.

Instead, in December, Trump’s doctor wrote in a short letter, which was made public, that his blood pressure and laboratory results “were astonishingly excellent” and that he would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency.”

Since then, the doctor has told NBC News that he wrote the letter in about five minutes, saying he was “rushed” and “anxious,” as a limousine was waiting for him. •