Medical incident ends MN DJ's sleepless attempt to break record

It started as an attempt to break the record for world's longest radio broadcast, but the sleepless endeavor ended earlier than planned when a Mankato DJ passed out.

Z99's Brad Steele set off to break the Guinness World Record for non-stop broadcasting, a mark of eight days and eight hours.

But he was cut short after two days and 18 hours when the Mankato Free Press reports his blood pressure rose around 3 a.m. Thursday, causing him to pass out.

In a Facebook post, Z99 called it an "incident that led to the paramedics" coming to the station, saying Steele then determined his health was most important at the time and ended it.

On Friday, Steele gave an update on his Facebook page, saying he'd basically been sleeping since leaving the station Thursday and thanking everyone involved, before finishing with:

"Remember the main focus is Leep not me ... I'm ready to be not tired and ready to be back with my co-workers for a normal work week and missed interacting with them on a normal work week!"

The marathon broadcast attempt was a charity project to raise money for Leisure Education for Exceptional People (LEEP), which provides recreation and sports activities those with intellectual disabilities.

Steele was "disappointed" he couldn't make it the whole time, KEYC reports. He is home and doing well, according to the Mankato Times.

The community had raised almost $3,300 as of Thursday.