One devastating story has seen presenters across both Seven and Nine’s prime time breakfast programs break down in tears this morning.
Both Today and Sunrise were covering the release of a two-page handwritten letter written by South Australia’s Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife, Emma, following the death of their teenage son, Charlie, during schoolies celebrations.
The 18-year-old was killed after an alleged hit-and-run on the south coast on Friday night and died the following day in hospital from an irreversible brain injury, making him the 101st person to lose their life on the state’s roads this year.
Nine’s Adelaide correspondent, Tom Rehn, admitted from the outset that he would struggle to be “professional” in delivering his report, as his own stepson was “one of Charlie’s best friends.”
“It’s really difficult to read … I’ll endeavour to get through it as best I can. It’s really tough,” he told Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.
Rehn openly wept and his voice broke as he read the lengthy, heartbreaking statement, which paid tribute to the real, much-loved person behind the tragic road toll statistic.
“I am writing this sitting in a bedroom with dirty clothes on the floor, an unmade bed, six drinking glasses lined up on the bedside table, an empty KFC box next to the glasses, wardrobe doors left open and a row of skateboards leaning on the wall – it is a mess and it’s perfect. This is where 101 lived,” the parents wrote in the letter, referring to their son by the sobering road death statistic he’s become, and delivered by a clearly overwhelmed Rehn.
The heartbroken parents described the “last of five” as different.
“Cheeky, intense and funny – a loveable ratbag from the moment he could talk. He was as frustrating as hell, but he was also the kid who would look after others, befriend the lonely, and help those who were struggling,” they wrote.
“Intensity shone through as 101 committed to each new passion — Lego, BBL, scooters, footy, cricket, basketball, surfing, downhilling, Fortnight and his skateboard — it was all or nothing and it was always all.
“... 101 had a circle of friends the rest of us could only dream about. He loved his mates and they loved him. His friends parents liked having 101 in their homes. He was mates with his brother’s mates.”
Over at Sunrise, it was a similarly devastating reaction to that on Nine when the same letter was read out on air.
Host Nat Barr was seen openly crying as the camera returned to the desk following Adelaide reporter Jade Robran’s live cross.
With Barr unable to speak, her co-host Matt “Shirvo” Shirvington was forced to take the reins – before breaking down in tears himself.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, it’s extremely hard to get through without shedding a tear, whether you knew Charlie or you didn’t know him, ”a visibly upset Shirvington admitted.
“But the understanding of losing a teenage child, Nat and I are in that position with teenage kids, it’s extremely difficult … It is something that is touching so many Australians at the moment.”
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It comes as the 18-year-old driver accused of being behind the wheel during the alleged hit-and-run was granted bail following a court appearance on Monday.
It comes after his mother expressed her condolences to the Stevens family in a statement on Saturday.
“I extend my deepest possible sympathies to the Stevens family and my heart is breaking to think of the suffering and pain they are experiencing,” she said. “Out of respect and acknowledging that this is now a matter for the courts, I won’t be saying anything further at this time.”
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