Matt Shirvington was left speechless on Wednesday after viewing footage of a crocodile attempting to escape its enclosure.
The Sunrise co-host, 45, was gobsmacked when he watched the massive croc scale and balance itself atop the caged fence in front of shocked onlookers in Roebuck, Western Australia.
‘That is so scary. Nup,’ Shirvo said from inside the Channel Seven studio.
Meanwhile, his co-host Natalie Barr assured him the crocodile was attempting to use the rest of its energy before a ‘big feed’.
‘Either way, if it’s got the energy to get over that thing!’ he added.
Thankfully, the croc slid back down into its enclosure.
Shrivo raced his way into Aussies hearts after he was announced as the replacement for long-serving Sunrise anchor David ‘Kochie’ Koch in 2023.
And a year later, the former Olympic athlete has become one of the nation’s most beloved TV hosts.
Matt Shirvington was left speechless on Wednesday after viewing footage of a crocodile attempting to escape its enclosure. Pictured with his co-host Natalie Barr (left)
The Sunrise co-host was gobsmacked when he watched the massive croc scale and balance itself atop the caged fence in front of shocked onlookers in Western Australia
He was announced as the replacement for veteran Sunrise anchor Kochie, 68, in June 2023 after he first signed on to work with Seven in 2020.
Kochie, the longest-serving breakfast TV anchor in Australian history, stunned viewers in May 2023 by announcing he was leaving the program after 21 years.
Despite having no formal training as a journalist at the time, it wasn’t Shirvo’s first time in the reporting seat or on television.
After a few cameos and guest roles on several other shows, Shirvo joined Sky News Australia in 2010 as a sports presenter and hosted Fox Sports NRL in 2013.
He also joined The Back Page as a co-host, worked as a host for Friday Night Football on Fox League, and in 2014 he co-hosted the ASTRA Awards with Shaynna Blaze.
Seven Network snapped Shirvo up in June 2020 as a weekend sports reporter for Seven News Sydney, replacing Jim Wilson.
The former Australian 100m national sprint titleholder said he has taken tips from co-host Natalie Barr, 56, (right) to implement a very strict morning routine
During this time, he also acted as a fill-in host and sports presenter on Sunrise, Weekend Sunrise and The Morning Show.
Shirvo’s debut as the permanent Sunrise co-host alongside Nat in June 2023 was a resounding success.
Seven bigwigs at the time said they were ‘relieved’ by the positive reception, as they hinted they weren’t always convinced Shirvo could pull loyal viewership.
Speaking to industry blog Mediaweek last December, Sarah Stinson, Seven’s director of morning television alluded to the network’s reservations.
‘We’ve been absolutely thrilled – and relieved,’ she said of the show’s continued ratings dominance at the time.
Stinson also revealed the network is delighted ‘Shirvo’ has clicked with co-host Nat.
‘He and Nat have such natural chemistry, and that’s come across on air,’ she said.
Shirvo shares daughters Sienna, 17, Winter, 15, and son Lincoln, six, with high school sweetheart and now wife Jessica Shirvington.
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