Conversation so far:
What did Lowell Thomas do?
Thomas's most amusing on-air gaffe.
What is this?
He was reading a story "cold" (going on the air without pre-reading his copy, contrary to his usual practice.
WHat did he say?
She suffered a near fatal heart attack".
The line came out of Thomas's mouth as.
What actually came out of his mouth?
line came out of Thomas's mouth as "She suffered a near fart ...
err fatal heart attack".
What did he do?
Realizing instantly what he had said, he tried to continue.
What happened?
eventually collapsed into gales of laughter, which continued into - and beyond - his announcer's chuckling sign-off for the day.

Question: Who helped him?
Self-contained rewrite: Who helped Lowell Thomas after the gales of laughter?