Vern Ehlers recovering after collapse

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Congressman Vern Ehlers collapsed early Saturday afternoon during an award ceremony at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

Ehlers was taken to Spectrum Health downtown and released a few hours later.

Marty Allen, the chairman emeritus of the Gerald R. Ford Museum Foundation , told 24 Hour News 8 that Ehlers passed out during the ceremony, but came to a short time later.

Ehlers was alert and talking after the incident, Allen added.

Staff at the presidential museum called 911 and Ehlers was taken to the hospital for tests.

He was at the museum for a two-part ceremony; the first part was honoring students for academic achievement and the second was for a Congressional art competition.

Ehlers collapsed during the second portion of the ceremony.

Kevin Chapman, Ehlers' communication director, also confirmed he fainted. He said hospital staff told Ehlers he was dehydrated.

The fainting spell came after a strenuous previous 24 hours for the congressman -- he had flown from Washington, D.C. to Florida, back to Washington, D.C., and then to Grand Rapids on Friday. He started his day at 9 a.m. Saturday and had been on his feet for about three hours prior to passing out.

Ehlers told 24 Hour News 8's Suzanne Geha "Tell everybody I'm fine. I feel fine."

While it seemed like an easy incident for Ehlers to brush off, watching the congressman fall was not quickly dismissed by those in attendance.

Award nominee Maddie Baker, 17, described the incident as pretty scary.

"He was in front of a flag pole and it fell back and I saw him falling," she said. "Everyone just gasped. It was so scary."

When he announced his retirement earlier this year, the 76-year-old congressman told 24 Hour News 8 his retirement was not due to any underlying health issues.