60 Minutes reporter dies

RICHARD Carleton died with his boots on yesterday, asking the tough questions to the end.The 62-year-old 60 Minutes reporter was, typically, on the scene at the biggest story in the country, at a press conference outside the Beaconsfield goldmine in Tasmania yesterday afternoon.

'Best communicator': Led with a punch Remembered: A career in news Industry: tributes to Carleton Nine: Carleton died doing what he loved

As the veteran journalist waited for what would be his last media conference to begin, a small girl asked for an autograph. Without hesitation, he obliged. "Have a healthy life," he wrote alongside his name.

Minutes later, he threw his final verbal hand grenade, aimed squarely at mine manager Matthew Gill. "Mr Gill, on the 26th of October last year, not 10m from where these men are now entombed, you had a 400-tonne rock fall. Is it (because of) the wealth of the seam that you continue to send men in to work in such a dangerous environment?" Carleton asked.

Gill ignored the question, but it was a good one. It was not the first question on the previous rock fall Gill had faced, but the mine manager was shaken, coming as it did from such a senior newsman.

Before Gill finished his answer, Carleton turned to his crew's camera, walked about eight metres, and collapsed.

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