The terrifying moment a reporter was physically attacked during a live broadcast.

The terrifying moment a US journalist was attacked while reporting on a drug overdose was captured on camera and live-streamed to shocked audiences.

KRCR news reporter Meaghan Mackey was at the scene of a mass fentanyl overdose in Chico, California on Saturday, reporting live on camera when she was assaulted by an unknown person nearby.

Viewers watched as Mackey took the camera in her hands and walked towards the scene after more than a dozen people had overdosed on the opiate drug.

A woman, who is off-screen can then be heard yelling: “This is disrespectful, do you understand that.”

Louder then, she yells: “It’s disrespectful b***h get the f**k out of here!”

The camera then hits the ground and it becomes apparent Mackey has been struck.

an @KRCR7 news channel 7 reporter “Meaghan Mackey” in California, was attacked while covering fentanyl-laced drug overdose. pic.twitter.com/yDqVHzsqYW

— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) January 13, 2019

It’s believed police at this point pulled the woman was pulled away from the journalist.

Soon after, KRCR tweeted that Mackey was “very shaken up”, but “okay”.

“We are thankful law enforcement was right there and handled the situation quickly,” the news station said.

As many of you know, our reporter Meaghan Mackey was attacked while at the scene of a mass overdose in Chico tonight. Meaghan is very shaken up but is okay. We are thankful law enforcement was right there and handled the situation quickly. We appreciate all your kind words.

— KRCR News Channel 7 (@KRCR7) January 13, 2019

The following day, Mackey gave her own account of the attack in a series of tweets.

“As many of you know, I was attacked and assaulted at the scene of a mass overdose in Chico, California last night,” she began. “I was doing my job, reporting the facts on a major incident during a Facebook live for my news station.

She thanked friends, coworkers, family and viewers for their support, reiterating the message that she was “still shaken up, but doing okay”.

“I stand with all journalists working in defence of the truth,” she then wrote.

“I will not live in fear of doing my job. I value the freedom of the press and will continue to report on the truth and inform the public, even during times of tragedy.”

Police confirmed that one person died and 12 more were taken to hospital, four in a critical condition following the overdose.

The US is currently in the midst of what is often reported as an “opioid crisis“, with a dramatic rise in the number of people addicted to and overdosing on opiates such as heroin or fentanyl – and sometimes both.