Natalie Barr breaks down in tears live on-air as she pays tribute to her Sunrise co-star Nathan Templeton after his shock death aged 44

Natalie Barr broke down in tears as she remembered her Sunrise colleague Nathan Templeton on Thursday’s breakfast show following his shock death at the age of 44.

Templeton suffered a medical episode on Monday evening while on a walking track near the Barwon River in Geelong, leaving behind wife Kate and their two young sons Jack and James. 

During the broadcast, the Sunrise team played a montage of Templeton’s time on the program, showing him reporting from football games, flood zones, Covid labs and at swimming competitions. 

‘Thank you, Tempo, for brightening our lives. We are so fortunate to have known you and worked alongside you. You will be missed,’ Barr said in her voiceover.

Following the montage, Barr cried as she paid tribute to the father-of-two.

‘We know you had more stories to tell them (our viewers). We are sorry you can’t tell them. Our hearts go out to our family, your two little boys, Kate, and everyone who knew you inside this building and across the Seven Network,’ she said.

‘But also so many of you who have written in and just said that you felt like you knew him because of how he… How he conducted himself on-air.’

Barr also shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute to Templeton on Wednesday, after tragic news of his death broke.

‘The toughest of days today. For 2 beautiful little boys and a whole family of love behind our colleague and mate Tempo,’ she wrote next to a photo of Templeton reporting on-air.

‘Years of eloquent storytelling behind him and so much more ahead. Too young and so terribly sad for everyone who knew him and all of you who watched and got to know him from afar. Heartfelt condolences to his family.’ 

A number of popular TV personalities commented on this post, including Dave ‘Hughsey’ Hughes, who wrote: ‘Always with a big smile and glint in his eye’. 

‘One of the best,’ added The Morning Show co-host Kylie Gillies, while celebrity nutritionist and regular Sunrise presenter Sarah Di Lorenzo wrote: ‘Just completely devastating.’ 

Sunrise news reporter Edwina Bartholomew also shared a tribute to Templeton on Wednesday evening. 

Bartholomew, 40, shared her grief and condolences on Instagram and revealed what she loved most about her fellow reporter.

‘This is how I will remember Nathan. His gravelly voice. His intense passion for all things sport, especially his poolside interviews,’ she penned.

‘He had a knack for getting the best out of athletes, even when they were disappointed in their own performance.’

‘He adored his boys. He will be missed,’ she added. 

More of Templeton’s friends and colleagues also issued tributes on social media.

7NEWS Sydney reporter Amber Laidler wrote: ‘A stellar reporter, an even better bloke. Sending thoughts to his family and his 2 young boys.’ 

Journalist Roger Oldridge meanwhile wrote: ‘Almost everyone is labelled a “great bloke” once they’re gone, but Nathan Templeton truly was.

‘Viewers got to see the incredibly talented reporter; colleagues and friends got so much more. One of the funniest people you’d meet. So many great times. My heart goes out to those boys.’

Perth mayor and former Seven colleague Basil Zempilas shared a photo from their coverage of the Gold Coast games in 2018.

‘This is how I’ll remember Nathan. Always happy, so reliable, incredibly hard-working and just so good to have on the team,’ he wrote.

‘He was team first. Always. That smile made everyone smile, his colleagues, his friends, the athletes, the audience. 

‘We’ll miss you, little mate, my deepest condolences to Kate and the boys – your dad was a champion, we’ll never forget him.’

Former journalist Hamish Jones said he was one ‘one of the nicest guys in television news you could hope to meet’. 

TV presenter Ryan Phelan said he was ‘heartbroken’ by Templeton’s passing. 

‘He was an incredibly talented and hardworking colleague but I will treasure our conversations post Channel 7,’ he wrote on X. 

‘Sending love to his young family’.

Seven presenter Rebecca Maddern, who grew up with Templeton in Geelong, wrote on Instagram: ‘We are so very sad.

‘Nathan loved the Geelong Cats as much as me, we went to the same school, worked at the same network and… he was a fine broadcaster, especially poolside at the Olympics where he truly excelled.

‘We shared the news desk often and he was so much fun. Rest in peace, Nathan… we are heartbroken.’

3AW football host Matt Granland described Templeton as a ‘kind and gentle soul taken way too soon’. 

‘So saddened to hear the passing of Nathan Templeton. Brilliant broadcaster, even better bloke,’ 9News reporter Corey Norris said.

Sky News reporter Simon Love said he was a ‘ripping bloke’. 

‘Always at the top of his game and a great source of advice and friendship on the road. Thoughts with his family,’ he said. 

The heartbroken family of Channel Seven news reporter Templeton have broken their silence after the ‘adoring father’ suffered a medical episode and died – as it’s revealed he had been off-air dealing with personal issues. 

The body of the father-of-two was found on a walking track near the Barwon River in Geelong on Monday evening. 

Templeton leaves behind his wife Kate and their two young sons Jack and James. 

‘Our hearts are broken for an adoring father and a wonderful friend, who’ll be missed by many,’ his family said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Just a few days earlier, Templeton had shared photos to Instagram of himself and his two young sons eating chocolate eggs on Easter morning.

‘Favourite morning of the year,’ he captioned a series of family photos.

Respected Channel Seven presenter Ann Sanders announced his death during the network’s 11.30am bulletin.

Sanders remained composed as she delivered the sad news during the live broadcast.

‘We’re sending our deepest condolences to his family and friends who remember Nathan as an adoring father and a wonderful friend,’ she said.

Victoria Police are preparing a report for the coroner after Templeton’s body was found in parkland, believed to be Zillah Crawcour Park, near his home in Geelong.

‘Emergency services were called to a park in Newtown about 2.30pm where the man was located deceased,’ said a spokesman.

‘The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.’

Templeton had worked for Seven for more than 12 years, including as the Melbourne correspondent for its breakfast show Sunrise, and in its sports department.

However, he had not been on-air for Sunrise since late 2022 and was working in a behind-the-scenes role last year.

Daily Mail Australia understands Templeton had been grappling with long-standing personal issues, including depression, and had been receiving support.

Channel Seven’s managing director of sport, Lewis Martin, emailed the newsroom on Wednesday morning to advise staff of Templeton’s death.

‘The tragic news of Nathan’s death has left us all at Seven profoundly saddened,’ the internal message said.

‘Nathan was a respected journalist whose passion for storytelling was evident in all his years reporting for Sunrise, 7News and multiple Olympic Games.’

Mr Martin said Templeton was ‘much-loved right across the network’ and ‘right around Australia’ for his coverage of major sporting events.

‘Our deepest condolences go out to his family, especially his two young sons during this difficult time,’ he continued.

‘If you are impacted by this news, you are not alone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a friend, colleague or your manager.’

Templeton studied journalism at Deakin University in Geelong, where he earned a bachelors degree in communications. 

He was part of Seven’s Olympic broadcast team in Tokyo and Rio and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as Australian Open and Australian Swimming Championships. 

Prior to joining Seven, he was a sport reporter at Ten News Melbourne. 

The experienced presenter also worked for the Geelong Football Club as a ground announcer for home games at GMHBA stadium.