British Sri Lankan journalist George Alagiah dies aged 67

By Newsdesk

A respected British Asian journalist and presenter who worked for the BBC passed away on Monday, 24 July.

The broadcaster revealed that George Alagiah, who had worked there for almost three decades, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2014 and went through a “challenging treatment”. Despite his health issues, he continued to work.

A statement from his agent said he “died peacefully today, surrounded by his family and loved ones”.

Alagiah was born in Colombo on November 22, 1955. He lived in Ghana for a few years before moving to the UK and joined the BBC as a foreign correspondent in 1989. He presented the BBC News at Six for the past 20 years, and before that was an award-winning foreign correspondent, reporting from countries ranging from Rwanda to Iraq, the BBC mentioned.

Paying tribute, his agent, Mary Greenham, said: “George was deeply loved by everybody who knew him, whether it was a friend, a colleague or a member of the public.

“He simply was a wonderful human being. My thoughts are with Fran, the boys and his wider family.”

BBC director general Tim Davie said, “Across the BBC, we are all incredibly sad to hear the news about George. We are thinking of his family at this time.

“He was more than just an outstanding journalist, audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity. He was loved by all and we will miss him enormously.”

BBC World Affairs editor John Simpson tweeted: “A gentler, kinder, more insightful and braver friend and colleague it would be hard to find.”

BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet described him as “a great broadcaster”, a “kind colleague” and “a thoughtful journalist”.

Clive Myrie, presenting the BBC News at One, said, “On a personal note, George touched all of us here in the newsroom, with his kindness and generosity, his warmth and good humour. We loved him here at BBC News, and I loved him as a mentor, colleague and friend.”

In 1994, Alagiah was honoured as Amnesty International’s Journalist of the Year for his coverage of the civil war in Burundi and also won the Broadcasting Press Guild’s award for television journalist of the year.

He was recognised with an OBE in 2008 for his services to journalism.