Channel Nine TV legend dies after suffering a medical episode and falling from a boat on Sydney Harbour despite paramedics desperately giving him CPR for 30 minutes
- John Westacott was a TV legend who ran 60 Minutes for 16 years
- He died on Sunday after a suspected medical episode on a boat
- Paramedics gave him CPR for 30 minutes but were unable to save him
- Westacott worked at the Nine network for more than two decades
- He became the subject of sexism allegations when a reporter sued Nine
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TV legend John Westacott – who ran ratings juggernaut 60 Minutes for 16 years and was a controversial media figure – has died after a suspected medical episode on a boat in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs.
A keen yachtsman, Westacott, believe to be in his mid-70s, had to be pulled from the water by NSW Police Marine Area Command after falling from a boat and into Sydney Harbour about 1.30pm on Sunday.
Watched on by alarmed crowds, NSW Ambulance paramedics treated Westacott at Vaucluse wharf for 30 minutes, but were unable to save him.
TV Legend John Westacott who ran 60 Minutes for 16 years and was a controversial media figure has died after a s suspected medical episode on a boat in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
The television titan was on the vessel with another man around the same age who looked visibly disturbed and who was shrouded in a blanket, plus an 18-year-old man.
At one point, pictures showed an emergency services worker put a consoling arm around the bystander.
Westacott was a legend in Sydney’s TV industry and was considered the master of chequebook journalism while working at 60 Minutes until 2010.
He also helmed other Nine news flagship shows such as A Current Affair and the Today Show.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him at Vaucluse wharf for 30 minutes, but were unable to save him
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NSW water police were called to rescue Mr Westacott who fell of a boat in Sydney Harbour
In 2008, Westacott hit the headlines after he was accused of making offensive and sexist remarks to female journalists.
Westacott was alleged to have told a group of female journalists at a book launch last year that they were hired only for their sex appeal.
‘To make it in this industry, you gotta have f***ability. To make it in this game, women have to be f***able,’ Westacott is alleged to have said.
Paramedic at the scene of the incident on Sunday when TV legend John Westacott fell from a boat at Vaucluse and could not be revived
A large crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the tragedy unfold at a popular seaside area of Sydney
The allegations were made by the former Nine’s Los Angeles correspondent, Christine Spiteri, in an unfair dismissal and sexual discrimination claim in which she sought damages of $500,000.
Westacott denied making the comment, or saying that with her name, Spiteri would be better for working for SBS.
A man who was on the vessel with Westacott was comforted by an officer afterwards as paramedics failed to revive the retired TV executive
Former Nine correspondent Christine Spiteri sued the Network after she was sacked and she claimed Westacott had made sexist remarks about women in TV
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