Legendary newsreader’s brave last act revealed: Channel Nine stalwart who perished with his wife in Black Saturday inferno saved his neighbours instead of himself
- Channel Nine newsreader Brian Naylor perished in bushfire with his wife in 2009
- Naylor reportedly told Victorian fire authorities to save a nearby elderly woman
- Black Saturday bushfires swept across state of Victoria on Sat., 7 February 2009
The legendary Channel Nine newsreader who tragically perished with his wife in a wild bushfire helped save his neighbours instead of himself, it has been revealed.
Brian Naylor and his wife, Moiree died when flames overcame their property in Kinglake West, central Victoria in 2009, as part of the Black Saturday bushfires.
Their daughter Jane Bayliss later learned her parents had turned away a fire crew who had arrived on the scene to help, telling them to go and help an elderly woman nearby, the Herald Sun reported.
Brian Naylor (pictured) and his wife, Moiree perished when flames overcame their property in Kinglake West in 2009, as part of the Black Saturday bushfires
Their daughter Jane Bayliss later learned her parents had turned away a fire crew who had arrived on the scene to help (pictured: Brian and Moiree Bayliss)
The devastating Black Saturday bushfires swept across the state of Victoria on Saturday, 7 February 2009
‘We’re all right,’ Mr Naylor reportedly told the emergency crew.
‘We’ll be OK. Go and see the lady down the road. She’s by herself.’
Sadly, the property was overcome with flames and Mr and Mrs Naylor’s bodies were found crouched together in the bathroom.
A plumber later informed their daughter of the bravery her father had shown.
‘Your father saved my mum,’ he told her. ‘There’s no way she would have made it out if that fire crew hadn’t arrived.’
Mr and Mrs Naylor were among the first 16 victims to succumb to the fire in the vicinity of Coombs and Pine Ridge roads.
The Black Saturday bushfires swept across the state of Victoria on Saturday, 7 February 2009 and are considered one of the country’s worst bushfires in modern history with 180 fatalities.
Many were also left homeless.
Mr and Mrs Naylor were among the first 16 victims to succumb to the fire in the vicinity of Coombs and Pine Ridge roads
They are considered one of the country’s worst bushfires in modern history with 180 fatalities