Australian presenter breaks down on live TV reporting that she knew hostage victim

Sunrise host Natalie Barr began to cry live on air after she discovered that her friend’s sister was one of the hostages and had been killed.

17:36 16 December 2014

Sunrise host Natalie Barr broke down on live TV after she discovered that one of the Sydney siege victims was the sister of her friend. Katrina Dawson, mother of three, died trying to protect a pregnant colleague.

Ms Barr became visibly upset as she named Dawson as one of the two hostages killed during a 16-hour siege at a Lindt café in Sydney’s Martin Place, close to Channel Seven’s studios.

Ms Dawson was a 38-year-old barrister who worked in Sydney’s central business district. She was killed alongside Tori Johnson, a 34-year-old café manager shortly after police officers stormed the café.

"I'm just finding out that Katrina Dawson was the sister of a prominent barrister, Sandy Dawson, who has done some work for Channel Seven," Ms Barr said, her voice breaking.

"Who I know and who I have friends who know. She was a mother of three children”. Between tears, the Sunrise host added: “We’re just finding that out now.

Her co-host, David Koch added: A mother-of-three… is one of the fatalities. This is a city with a heavy heart this morning.”