Reporter furiously erupts at driver for 'dangerous' act during live broadcast
Footage of a reporter losing her rag at a driver for 'dangerously' navigating their way through floodwater has sparked a fiery debate online.
Journalist Katie Brown, who works on Australia's Sunrise breakfast show, was reporting on Cyclone Alfred live from Byron Bay when she spotted the 'stupid' motorist.
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Brown was bringing viewers up to speed on the latest developments after the tropical storm battered Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) with powerful winds and heavy rainfall.
A host of residents were evacuated as forecasters warned that Cyclone Alfred was set to make landfall and cause 'significant risks', however the storm was later downgraded from a tropical cyclone to a tropical low.
Authorities urged people to stay indoors and said fines would be doled out to those who still visited beaches, as even though the weather event weakened, officials said it would still wreak some havoc.
Which is probably why Brown was left blown away by the amount of people who were still 'out and about' on Friday (7 March).
While assessing the situation on the roads, she explained that the Sunrise crew had just watched a fire truck drive past and that the floodwater had 'come straight up beyond its tyres'.
"This is only minor flooding but we've really got to start to be careful, you can't be risking it," Brown told viewers, before going on to say she was left stunned by how many people were around.
"There's even a bicycle rider going through the floodwaters," the TV star said. "We've got a bystander running through, I'm not sure why he's on the road.
"In terms of safety, we really need to listen to the authorities, because it is dangerous out there. There's still a lot of people out and about and travelling to and from.
"You can see how quickly this floodwater rises. This morning when we left for Ballina, it was a small puddle on the right hand side."
As she described the situation to people watching from home, Brown was then left visibly enraged as she watched a motorist driving a lot faster than anyone else through the floodwater.
She remarked: "Now you can see a Commodore being so stupid on the road! Sorry, that is stupid behaviour! That is so dangerous, that can cause a serious accident, we are dealing with a cyclone.
"This is what you have to be aware of, it's not people who are trying to be safe, it's people who are being silly. Gosh, that's just really annoyed me, that's just stupid."
She apologised to Sunrise host Matt Shirvington for 'losing her train of thought' after spotting the 'ridiculous' driver, to which he replied: "It's unbelievable."
Although it seems those at the helm of the breakfast show are all in agreement about the driver's actions being daft, social media users aren't.
The footage of Brown's segment was shared on TikTok alongside the caption: "Sunrise reporter Katie Brown had some choice words for a driver crossing flood waters after their dangerous driving manoeuvre."
Despite a lot of people taking Brown's side, there were also a host of comments left in support for the driver.
One person said: "'We are dealing with a cyclone'...settle down love, it's one inch of water."
Another wrote: "Get away from the road and out of the rain then."
A third added: "Just report the news and please don't lecture us."
And a fourth commented: "Was nothing wrong with that, he had a good speed to get through the water and the car in front of him was moving much slower. Wouldn't have been smart for him to slow down."
On the other hand, some people thought Brown's remarks were completely justified.
One supporter said: "This is why 7 is the best network as the reporters keep it real and honest, say what we are all thinking. Your team is on the ground experiencing the actual events, not broadcasting from indoors."
Another chimed in: "Well done for calling them out. Some people are being so stupid and selfish, they will be the ones who pull emergency resources from those who actually need rescuing or assistance."
While a third said in solidarity: "Love you Katie Brown... tells it how it is."
Brown shared an Instagram post on Saturday giving people further weather updates on what was formerly known as Cyclone Alfred, saying there had been 'less rain, more wind, good hair day and lots of teamwork'.
She added: "Seeing so many amazing people in the community being so selfless to keep others safe and lend a helping hand it just makes ya heart feel full! Hopefully the rain and wind is over soon, stay safe."
Topics: Australia, Cars, Driving, Viral, Weather, Social Media
Olivia Burke