Australian-Media.com.au News

• Charmaine Dragun dead at 29

  November 2 2007 6:35pm (UTC+8)  -  Article by Kevin

  
  UPDATED 04/11/2007 | Network Ten news presenter Charmaine Dragun has been found dead following an incident at The Gap in Sydney. Police have described her death as non-suspicious.
  
  The incident occurred shortly before 4pm AEDT this afternoon.
  
  "Police are investigating an incident at Watsons Bay", a police spokesman said tonight.
  
  "Shortly before 4pm a woman, believed to be aged in her 30s, was sitting at Jacob's Ladder."
  
  "Police arrived and located the woman deceased at the scene."
  
  The spokesman said investigations were continuing and a report would be prepared for the coroner.
  
  Network Ten chief executive officer Grant Blackley tonight said news of Draguns' death had left the network in a state of shock.
  
  "Colleagues and friends of Charmaine Dragun, co-presenter of Ten's Perth News at Five, mourn her tragic passing this afternoon", Mr Blackley said in the condolence statement.
  
  "We are all in a state of shock and sadness at this terrible news."
  
  "Charmaine was a highly intelligent, vibrant and caring person, universally liked and admired by her colleagues."
  
  "Our deepest sympathies go to her partner, Simon, and her family."
  
  "We are doing what we can to support them and urge everyone to respect their privacy at this time."
  
  Dragun began her career as a radio journalist working for Perth radio stations 6PR and 96fm.
  
  After moving to Network Ten, she turned to court reporting and took up a role as fill-in presenter on Ten News. She was then appointed as full time co-presenter for the Perth edition of Ten News following the departure of presenter Celina Edmonds in July 2005.
  
  Charmaine was only 29.
  

  ---

  
  UPDATE | Charmaine's grieving parents have revealed they want their daughter remembered as "an angel" who "brought joy to everyone she met".
  
  "We wish to thank all for their thoughts and support in this time", they said.
  
  Australian-Media.com.au understands that Police were rushing to The Gap in Sydney - a cliff scenic spot - prior to Charmaine's death. New South Wales Police have confirmed they received a call from a witness who said a woman had been sitting on the cliff top for "quite some time". Unfortunately Police did not make it in time - Charmaine had plunged to her death before they arrived.
  
  Reports suggest that Charmaine had been feeling troubled in recent times, with feelings of isolation from her family and friends in Perth. She had moved to Sydney in 2005 to take up the role of co-presenter on the Perth edition of Ten News which is produced in Sydney.
  
  Her colleagues at Network Ten are deeply shocked at the news of Charmaine's death. "She was just a beautiful and bubbly, really lovely girl," one colleague said.
  

  ---

  
  COMMENT | The death of Charmaine is a tragic and extremely sad event, and the news has shocked everyone.
  
  Losing someone as talented as Charmaine at such a young age leaves many of us speechless. She was a fantastic television reporter and presenter, and her abrupt departure from us will be felt by many across the state (WA), and the country, for some time to come.
  
  The Australian-Media.com.au team and our members offer our condolences to Charmaine's parents Estelle and Michael, her partner Simon, her family and friends, and her colleagues at Network Ten.
  
  Charmaine was loved by everyone who watched her on television and she will definitely be missed.
  
  Rest in peace Charmaine.
  

  ---

  
  TRIBUTE VIDEO | I have prepared a small tribute video which shows Charmaine's glowing smile and the warmth offered by her whilst presenting Ten News.
  
  
  
  
  Australian-Media.com.au

Comments