A man who died after falling from a boat in Sydney Harbour over the weekend has been identified as former Nine Network titan John Westacott, the network’s former head of news and current affairs.
Emergency services arrived at the harbour near Vaucluse at about 1.30pm on Sunday, after Mr Westacott fell off the boat near Neilson’s Park, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, after suffering from a suspected medical episode, as reported by The Guardian.
Mr Westacott was helped from the water by police and treated by paramedics onshore.
He was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
According to a statement from NSW Police on Sunday, an 18-year-old man was also onboard at the time and was uninjured and returned to shore.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 73-year-old’s death, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.
Mr Westacott is survived by his wife Cecile and two sons.
On Monday, Channel Nine released a statement paying tribute to Mr Westacott as a trailblazer in Australian television.
“He was the longest-serving and most successful Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, a driving force of A Current Affair and a visionary with Nine as the National Director of News and Current Affairs,” Director of TV Michael Healy and Darren Wick, the National Director of News and Current Affairs, said in a joint statement.
“Westy was an enigma. There was no-one like him. He didn‘t care about political correctness and would publicly declare that.
“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.
“Westy made Nine a better place. He was a big vision, big picture person who made us all reach for the stars and land on them.
“We will miss him.”
Channel Seven TV executive Mark Llewellyn told The Daily Telegraph of Mr Westacott’s love of sailing and news, recalling one time where took part in the 1994 Sydney to Hobart as a 60 Minutes reporter and deckhand.
“Westy loved the news game almost as much as he loved sailing,” Mr Llewellyn said.
“If he could combine the two he would be in seventh heaven – in fact, he did. Once sailing his little yacht in the treacherous Sydney to Hobart with Charles Wooley as both seasick deckhand and 60 Minutes reporter. Pure Westy!
“He hated to lose, loved to get the big yarns and always dreamt of the next scoop.
“He made friends, made enemies, made bloody memorable TV and now sails to a better place.”
Mr Westacott worked at Nine for more than 20 years, serving as 60 Minutes’ executive producer for 16 years and enjoying a stint as executive producer of A Current Affair before going on to become the head of news and current affairs.
Despite retiring in 2009, Mr Westacott returned to Nine as a part-time consultant for 60 Minutes before he was made redundant in 2012.
Image: Nine
