ABC presenter Joe O‘Brien shed a tear during a heartwarming story while hosting News 24’s morning broadcast.
ABC presenter Joe O‘Brien has broken down at a heartwarming story while hosting News 24’s morning broadcast.
The story of Beryl and Bill, who were sent to an orphanage as children when their father Frank Stewart died at sea in WWII, moved the host to tears after explaining how they finally tracked each other down after 80 years.
But when their father, Frank Stewart, died aboard the freighter SS Iron Crown after being torpedoed by the Japanese in June 1942, the siblings were sent to different homes to grow up.
Authorities blocked them from having any contact. In the 1940s, orphaned siblings were prevented from having contact as it was believed a fresh start was best for children who lost their parents.
Bill Stewart was 11 at the time, recalling the situation left him in shock.
After finally finding each other online in 2020, the pair were unable to meet because of the pandemic.
Beryl said their eventual reunion was “a miracle” end to many decades of “longing and wanting” to find her brother.
The pair refer to each other as their “darling sibling” and share a phone call each day at 8am.
“Never give up hope and always keep trying to find your brother or your sister or your family member, just like I did,” Mr Stewart said.
“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” O’Brien said at the end of the segment, wiping tears from his face.
Originally published as ABC host Joe O’Brien tears up over heartwarming shipwreck story
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