John Westacott, Nine TV personality, dies at Vaucluse

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

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

He has been credited with inventing the ‘worm’ graphic used during election debates.

Westacott was hailed as a ‘driving force’ behind Nine’s long dominance of commercial TV news and current affairs programming. 

‘Westy was an enigma. There was no-one like him,’ a statement issued by current Nine news chief Darren Wick and Head of Television Michael Healy said. 

‘He didn’t care about political correctness and would publicly declare that. 

‘But, he was among the first in our industry to promote women to senior roles with 60 Minutes and ensure their voices were heard. 

Mr Westacott has been credited with inventing ‘the worm’, which measures an audience’s sentiment during a debate

Charles Wooley (pictured second from right) said Westacott was ‘indefatigable and ceaseless’ in pursuit of a story. Also in the picture are 60 Minutes reporters (from left)  Liam Bartlett, Liz Hayes, George Negus and Ray Martin at the 2018 Logie Awards in Sydney.

‘He didn’t care where you came from, nor about your gender, ethnicity or religious and political beliefs. 

‘He cared about whether you had the passion and ability to tell a great story.’

Former 60 Minutes reporter Charles Wooley paid tribute to Westacott as ‘as the kind of man you’d trust with your life … I’m just absolutely shattered, I’ve been blubbering about this to everyone I’ve spoken to – fair dinkum.’

‘I have never met anyone more indefatigable and ceaseless in his pursuit of a story,’ Wooley told The Australian. 

‘He would never give up and whatever he would do, he would enrich with his words and his work.’

‘We’re all shocked to lose him, he was brilliant and felt indestructible – it kind of feels like he “did a runner”, which was Westie’s term for when you leave an unpleasant situation and leave the rest to face the music.’

 After 25 years as a journalist and producer Westacott retired from Nine in 2009.

He is survived by his wife Cecile and two sons.