An American news reporter has gone viral after accidentally swallowing a fly while on air – with viewers insisting she ‘needs a raise’.

Boston25 journalist Vanessa Welch was in the middle of reporting when a fly landed on her face near her eye. While Mid-sentence, the fly fell down and into her mouth. She appeared to have swallowed the bug and after a quick grimace, Welch carried on as if nothing happened.

Now, Instagram users have been sharing their comments on the situation, praising Welch’s complete professionalism.

“That is professionalism right there,” wrote one Instagram user, while another shared: “Nah she needs a raise, she didn’t even bat an eye (Well she sorta did)”

Another user commented: “I have NEVER seen that level of professionalism DAMN,” while another shared: “My natural instinct would have kicked in straight away and I’d have been a screaming wreck flipping tables and spitting that damn thing out my mouth.”

Elsewhere, other viewers are hoping that what fell was a clump of a fake eyelash that Welch may have been wearing.

“Losing an eyelash is already embarrassing, but swallowing it on live TV? That’s next-level awkward!” wrote one user, while two other’s commented: “Tell me that was an eyelash, tell me that was an eyelash,” and “Guys. It was just a cluster lash that fell off.”

Welch isn’t the first journalist to accidentally swallow a bug while on air. Back in 2014, Sky News reporter Adam Boulton also swallowed a fly.

While in the middle of talking about a Cabinet reshuffle, Boulton swallowed a fly mid-sentence.

One of his colleagues in the studio – unaware of what had happened – asked if Boulton wanted to “take a pause” to which he responded with “No, I swallowed a fly, that’s alright – I’ve recovered now,” and proceeded with his report from Number 10 Downing Street.