Canadian News Anchor Killed In Accident On Phuket

[sriracha john]

CBC broadcaster killed in vacation accident

May 7, 2006

Toronto Star

Veteran CBC news anchor Lorne Saxberg died Saturday in a snorkelling accident while on vacation in Phuket, Thailand, CBC News reported on its website.

The 48-year-old broadcaster was one of the original anchors when CBC's all-news channel Newsworld was launched in 1989, CBC News reported.

Saxberg had a 27-year career with the country's public broadcaster and was a widely recognized news anchor on both television and radio.

He was recently awarded an Edward R. Murrow Award for a documentary he wrote and hosted on the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb, CBC reported.

Saxberg grew up in Thunder Bay, Ont., and joined CBC Radio as an announcer.

He later moved to Toronto where he joined the roster of anchors at CBC Newsworld.

Saxberg took leave from CBC two years ago to work as announcer and trainer with NHK Japan in Tokyo.

"He was the consummate pro and an exceptional journalist," said Ken Becker, a Newsworld producer who worked with Saxberg for many years.

"When he was in the anchor chair, you knew you could throw Lorne any story — from the outbreak of war to the birth of a panda at the zoo — and he'd deliver it to the viewer with exactly the right tone."

"He brought to every story a vast knowledge on nearly every subject, a reporter's curiosity and an appreciation of fine writing."

[sriracha john]

CBC broadcaster Lorne Saxberg dies

Lorne Saxberg was one of the original anchors when Newsworld was launched in 1989. (CBC)

07 May 2006

CBC News

Veteran CBC broadcaster Lorne Saxberg died Saturday in a snorkelling accident while on vacation in Phuket, Thailand. He was 48.

During his 27-year career at CBC, Saxberg was a widely recognized news anchor in television and radio, who was famous for his deeply sonorous voice and his easy-going delivery.

Saxberg grew up in Thunder Bay, Ont., and joined CBC Radio as an announcer in his early 20s. He soon moved to Toronto, where he became one of the first anchors of CBC Newsworld, Canada's all-news television network.

Two years ago, Saxberg took a leave from his duties as anchor for national television news and CBC Newsworld to work as announcer and trainer with NHK Japan in Tokyo, where he became widely known for his Canadian accent and deep voice.

[dive_mistress]

Does anybody know where?????? Or more details about the accident?

People always die in the low season in the ocean.

But I wonder where he was snorkeling, not so many places down here on the south end without waves.

Snorkeling trips to Phi Phi still and coral island and mabye Racha.

Sounds like he had a good life full life.

[cdnvic]

Does anybody know where?????? Or more details about the accident?

People always die in the low season in the ocean.

But I wonder where he was snorkeling, not so many places down here on the south end without waves.

Snorkeling trips to Phi Phi still and coral island and mabye Racha.

Sounds like he had a good life full life.

He was an outstanding journalist. RIP Lorne.

cv

[tom yum goong]

pardon my ignorance but surely its quite hard to die while snorkelling? The article doesn't give any details.

[khall64au]

pardon my ignorance but surely its quite hard to die while snorkelling? The article doesn't give any details.

There is absolutely zilch in the Thai news about this tragic incident ... including Phuket news sources.

[cdnvic]

pardon my ignorance but surely its quite hard to die while snorkelling? The article doesn't give any details.

Riptides, cramps, poisonous sealife, becoming entangled in nets or other debris, medical problems, being hit by boats or other watercraft, accidental water ingestion, etc.

Whatever you do, don't go snorkling thinking its quite hard to die. Too many of the people who died while doing it made the same mistake.

cv

[sriracha john]

a few more details...

Newsman dies snorkelling

A senior Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcaster Lorne Saxberg died on Saturday while snorkelling with friends off Koh Khai in Phang Nga.

The 48-year-old Ontarian was taking a holiday in Phuket.

An officer from Phuket City police station said: "We received a report at about 4pm on Saturday that a man had died while swimming in Phang Nga province.

"Volunteers from the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation went to recover the body."

Mr Saxberg's friends had taken his body to Rassada port.

"We are not yet sure of the cause of death," the officer added.

"He had an operation on his heart seven years ago but we are uncertain if that is connected to the incident. Another possible cause is an attack of cramp while swimming," he said, adding that a post-mortem would be carried out at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Mr Saxberg worked at CBC for 27 years and in 1989 he became an anchorman on the channel's rolling-news service Newsworld.

Recently he worked for the Japanese broadcasting corporation NHK, where he received an Edward Murrow broadcast journalism award for his documentary Hiroshima: 60 Years Later, which he both wrote and presented.

- The Nation

[donna]

Saxberg body sent to Bangkok for autopsy

PHUKET: The body of Canadian Lorne Saxberg, who apparently drowned on Saturday while snorkeling off Koh Khai, in Phang Nga Bay, was sent to Bangkok today for forensic tests to determine what caused his death.

An officer of the Phuket Police Station, who spoke to the Gazette on condition of anonymity, said, “We have yet to receive the results of the autopsy by doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital.

“Mr Saxberg’s family have now requested that his body be sent to the Central Institute of Forensic Science in Bangkok.

“His family are still waiting for the autopsy results. They need to know the real reason why he died. I think we will know the reason soon,” he added.

The officer added that police believe Mr Saxberg died of either heart failure, as he had had a heart operation seven years ago, or drowned after suffering cramp while snorkeling.

Mr Saxberg, 48, was a veteran CBC broadcaster and was on vacation in Phuket when he died.

http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=4989

[britmaveric]

odd - prob drowned or heart attack.

[bkkmadness]

The officer added that police believe Mr Saxberg died of either heart failure, as he had had a heart operation seven years ago, or drowned after suffering cramp while snorkeling.

odd - prob drowned or heart attack.

Nothing gets past our Britmaveric.

Edited May 11, 2006 by bkkmadness

[inmemorylsx]

The officer added that police believe Mr Saxberg died of either heart failure, as he had had a heart operation seven years ago, or drowned after suffering cramp while snorkeling.

odd - prob drowned or heart attack.

Nothing gets past our Britmaveric.

Edited March 2, 2007 by inmemorylsx

[inmemorylsx]

A very shocking and sad day 10 months ago. We enjoyed the beauty and kindness of Phuket and surrounding areas/locals and then this tragic accident happened.

In memory of Lorne Saxberg;

http://lornesaxberg.blogspot.com/

[Lithobid]

A very shocking and sad day 10 months ago. We enjoyed the beauty and kindness of Phuket and surrounding areas/locals and then this tragic accident happened.

In memory of Lorne Saxberg;

http://lornesaxberg.blogspot.com/

Sounds like he was alone as well, aren't we not supposed to go snorkeling alone.