Latest news with #WHDH
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beloved local TV anchor dies aged 69
Beloved Boston TV anchor Byron Barnett has died at the age of 69 after a brave battle with cancer. The veteran journalist, who reported for WHDH for nearly four decades, passed away peacefully on Sunday in his hometown of Minneapolis, surrounded by his family. His station confirmed the tragic news in a moving on-air tribute. Barnett, a beloved and respected reporter across New England, was known for his political coverage, as well as his ability to connect with viewers and ask tough questions. He reported on some of the biggest stories of his time, including an interview with Muhammad Ali early in his career that he described as one of his proudest moments. 'For almost 40 years, when big news happened, Byron Barnett was there,' WHDH said in a statement. 'From snowstorms, to shocking courtroom dramas, and moments that changed our world, including the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986, Byron was reporting live from Cape Canaveral when the disaster happened.' 'It was his questioning of another sports legend that Pats fans will always remember, Bill Belichick.' 'Through the thousands of stories he told, Byron crafted his legacy in Boston.' His family also released a statement Monday. 'It is with sorrow in our hearts that we share that on Sunday, after facing cancer with unwavering courage, Byron passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.' 'Throughout his four-decade career, Byron cherished the privilege of telling the stories of New Englanders who welcomed him into their lives. As we grieve his passing, we want to thank every single person in New England who entrusted Byron to tell their story.' 'And to all the viewers throughout the years, we cannot tell you how much your support has meant to him and our family. Byron often said, "He was so lucky to wake up every day and go to a job he loved." And for anyone who was part of his life both in Massachusetts and Minnesota, I'm sure we'd all agree that we were the lucky ones. Barnett retired in 2021. After leaving the newsroom, he was inducted into both the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the NATAS Silver Circle. 7NEWS reporter Jon Hall shared a heartwarming message on Instagram about his friend, saying 'everyone loved the man.' Barnett, a beloved and respected reporter across New England, was known for his political coverage, as well as his ability to connect with viewers and ask tough questions 'Heartbroken to share the news that my good friend and longtime @7news colleague Byron Barnett died Sunday, surrounded by family, peacefully, in his native Minneapolis,' Hall wrote. 'He faced cancer and its complications. Simply, everyone loved the man. He was such a good reporter and communicator who loved a nasty Nor'easter, or ball game, or presidential race. He covered many of them. He famously grilled Belichick. He even interviewed Muhammad Ali!' Hall recalled their final dinner on June 5 saying' 'Byron looked great – we just don't know how much time we have on this planet.' He added: 'A lot of prayers went his way over the last week or so while Byron was hospitalized. Thank you all. I know his family appreciates the love.'
Boston Globe
05-08-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Retired WHDH reporter Byron Barnett has died, family says
Barnett spent 38 years with WHDH-TV before signing off in 2021. He died Sunday in his native Minneapolis surrounded by his loved ones, his longtime friend and WHDH colleague Jonathan Hall said in a 'Simply, everyone loved the man,' Hall wrote. 'He was such a good reporter and communicator who loved a nasty Nor'easter, or ball game, or presidential race. He covered many of them.' In a statement, Barnett's family said he 'cherished the privilege of telling the stories of New Englanders who welcomed him into their lives.' Barnett was battling cancer, which he faced 'with unwavering courage,' his family said. Advertisement Hall said he recently met Barnett for dinner in June. 'Byron looked great - we just don't know how much time we have on this planet,' Hall wrote. WHDH General Manager Jimmy Rogers said Boston television is mourning 'a brilliant broadcaster' who will be missed by his viewers. 'I'm one of these guys who grew up watching Byron and just respected everything he did,' Rogers said. 'He brought an incredible amount of knowledge, credibility, and confidence with every story he told.' Another of Barnett's colleagues, WHDH reporter Steve Cooper, highlighted some of the major stories Barnett covered during his career in a Advertisement 'He also covered so many snowstorms his funny parka became a minor celebrity,' Cooper wrote. 'Byron was a favorite with viewers — a great reporter and an even better person." Barnett's career took him across the country. He covered the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 and the death penalty trial of Timothy McVeigh, and reported on every presidential campaign since the 1984 race between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale, according to his biography on the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame website. Barnett graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1977 and took his first job with the TV station KTSP in the Twin Cities, he said in an interview for an alumni profile on the university's He moved to Boston to join WHDH in 1983 and covered a range of stories and topics, including politics, crime, court cases, terrorism, and major weather events. He also 'famously grilled [former Patriots coach Bill] Belichick' and interviewed Muhammad Ali, Hall said. Barnett also hosted the station's long-running community affairs show, 'Urban Update.' Rogers said Barnett developed deep ties in the Boston community through his reporting and work on the show. 'It was really a tie between himself, the station, and the viewership and the Boston community at large,' he said. 'He was well respected all around the block, from us here at the station down to viewers in Plymouth and up to New Hampshire,' he added. 'I think he connected with everybody.' Barnett was inducted into the Advertisement He said he was grateful to his viewers in New England and the people he interviewed over his decades covering local stories. 'I've always done my best to tell their stories accurately and to tell them well,' he said. Nick Stoico can be reached at
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Shocking moment paddleboarders in ‘Jaws' country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters
THIS is the terrifying moment paddleboarders in the "Jaws" country come dangerously close to a gargantuan great white shark. The creature swam just feet away from two pals enjoying the waters in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July. 4 The shark's fin is seen protruding from the water in the bottom right corner Credit: WHDH 4 Margaret's terrified face is captured in a picture Credit: WHDH 4 The shark's fin sticking out of the water Credit: WHDH College students Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin were splashing around on their paddleboards off Woods Hole on the southwest end of Cape Cod - when a terrifying great white shark emerged. The beast's eight-inch fin is captured in an image protruding from the water, panicking the two pals. Margaret is heard exclaiming in footage as she desperately jumps on her board for safety: "Oh!" The pair were in such disbelief at what they saw, they had to look back at Maddie's pictures and videos to confirm their suspicions. read more news GRIM ATTACK Surfer mauled in 'shark bite capital of world' after beast emerged from nowhere Margaret's terrified face is captured in a picture, while the sea beast's fin is seen popping out of the water a mere few feet away. She told WHDH: "I see this big fin pop up next to her, it's like eight inches out of the water sort of fleshy, gray and I'm like 'Oh my goodness that's a shark, we got to go.' "Once we were back to shore, I was kind of like no way, they aren't here. "It took a second to register that was what happened but it was a complete surprise. "I've spent time teaching marine biology here and swimming in the ocean. I certainly never expected for a great white shark to wander my way. "I always operated under the assumption that there were no sharks in Woods Hole. Surfer mauled in 'shark bite capital of the world' after beast 'clamped down like a bear trap out of nowhere' "I would have friends down and they'd ask, 'Are there sharks here?' And I'd be like, 'No, no way.'" The students managed to keep their "cool" and scrambled back to shore without encountering any trouble. After returning safely, the two joked that the shark had just suffered some direction trouble and got lost in the waters. They named the beast "Steve". The shocking image showing the fin was sent off to experts, with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries confirming the friends had in fact come face-to-face with a great white shark in Buzzards Bay. The shark encounter hasn't put the friends off returning to the beach however. Margaret added: "I've already gone swimming since then. I love the ocean. What happened was incredibly unlikely." What she did confess though is she is temporarily stopping wearing her wetsuit in the water. Margaret said: "That seems unadvisable at the time. "Hopefully 'Steve' moves on and I'll get right back to it." The shark sighting off the Stoney Beach shore is the first in the area in over a whopping two decades. The last confirmed sighting of a great white in Buzzards Bay was back in 2004, Cape and Islands reports.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Shocking moment paddleboarders in ‘Jaws' country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters
THIS is the terrifying moment paddleboarders in the "Jaws" country come dangerously close to a gargantuan great white shark. The creature swam just feet away from two pals enjoying the waters in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July. 4 The shark's fin is seen protruding from the water in the bottom right corner Credit: WHDH 4 Margaret's terrified face is captured in a picture Credit: WHDH 4 The shark's fin sticking out of the water Credit: WHDH College students Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin were splashing around on their paddleboards off Woods Hole on the southwest end of Cape Cod - when a terrifying great white shark emerged. The beast's eight-inch fin is captured in an image protruding from the water, panicking the two pals. Margaret is heard exclaiming in footage as she desperately jumps on her board for safety: "Oh!" The pair were in such disbelief at what they saw, they had to look back at Maddie's pictures and videos to confirm their suspicions. read more news Margaret's terrified face is captured in a picture, while the sea beast's fin is seen popping out of the water a mere few feet away. She told next to her, it's like eight inches out of the water sort of fleshy, gray and I'm like 'Oh my goodness that's a shark, we got to go.' "Once we were back to shore, I was kind of like no way, they aren't here. "It took a second to register that was what happened but it was a complete surprise. Most read in The US Sun "I've spent time teaching marine biology here and swimming in the ocean. I certainly never expected for a great white shark to wander my way. "I always operated under the assumption that there were no sharks in Woods Hole. Surfer mauled in 'shark bite capital of the world' after beast 'clamped down like a bear trap out of nowhere' "I would have friends down and they'd ask, 'Are there sharks here?' And I'd be like, 'No, no way.'" The students managed to keep their "cool" and scrambled back to shore without encountering any trouble. After returning safely, the two joked that the shark had just suffered some direction trouble and got lost in the waters. They named the beast "Steve". The shocking image showing the fin was sent off to experts, with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries confirming the friends had in fact come face-to-face with a great white shark in Buzzards Bay. The shark encounter hasn't put the friends off returning to the beach however. Margaret added: "I've already gone swimming since then. I love the ocean. What happened was incredibly unlikely." What she did confess though is she is temporarily stopping wearing her wetsuit in the water. Margaret said: "That seems unadvisable at the time. "Hopefully 'Steve' moves on and I'll get right back to it." The shark sighting off the Stoney Beach shore is the first in the area in over a whopping two decades. The last confirmed sighting of a great white in Buzzards Bay was back in 2004, 4 The students managed to keep their 'cool' and scrambled back to shore without encountering any trouble Credit: WHDH
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Terrified Massachusetts paddleboarders capture close encounter with great white shark off Cape Cod beach: ‘We got to go'
A Jaws-some experience. A great white shark shocked two Massachusetts paddleboarders as it swam just feet away from the two friends enjoying their Fourth of July evening on the water. College students Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin were paddling in the waters off Woods Hole on the southwest end of Cape Cod when they saw the predator's estimated 8-inch fin. 4 The dorsal fin of a great white shark pops out of the water near Margaret Bowles in Woods Hole, Mass. on July 4, 2025. WHDH Cronin, a student at the University of Toronto, was recording a video of Bowles splashing around when the shark's dorsal fin surfaced, frightening the two friends. 'Oh,' Bowles said as she jumped up on her board, according to a video obtained by WHDH. Bowles and Cronin, who were high school friends, didn't believe what they saw and had to look back at Cronin's photos and to confirm their suspicions. The photo captured Bowles' terrified expression as the underwater predator's dorsal fin breached the water's surface, just feet away from Cronin's board. 'I see this big fin pop up next to her, it's like eight inches out of the water sort of fleshy, gray and I'm like 'Oh my goodness that's a shark, we got to go,'' Bowles, who attends Harvard University, told the outlet. 'Once we were back to shore, I was kind of like no way, they aren't here,' Bowles added. 'It took a second to register that was what happened but it was a complete surprise. I've spent time teaching marine biology here and swimming in the ocean. I certainly never expected for a great white shark to wander my way. 'I always operated under the assumption that there were no sharks in Woods Hole. I would have friends down and they'd ask, 'Are there sharks here?' And I'd be like, 'No, no way.'' 4 WHDH The photo was sent to experts, and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries confirmed the friends had encountered a great white shark in Buzzards Bay. Knowing they were on top of their boards, the friends kept their 'cool' and paddled back to shore without incident. After returning to the safety of land, the friends joked that the shark got lost in the waters and was stopping for directions. The 'lost' creature was named 'Steve' and didn't scare the friends away from the beach. 'I've already gone swimming since then. I love the ocean. What happened was incredibly unlikely,' Bowles said. 4 Margaret Bowles sits on her paddleboard after seeing the shark pass her. WHDH 4 Maddie Cronin sits on her paddleboard during her outing with Bowles. WHDH Bowles did, however, say she was temporarily putting a pause to swimming in her wetsuit in the waters. 'That seems unadvisable at the time,' she said. 'Hopefully 'Steve' moves on and I'll get right back to it.' 'Steve's' sighting off the shore of Stoney Beach was the first in the area in over two decades. The last confirmed sighting of a great white in Buzzards Bay was in 2004, according to Cape and Islands. 'The general perception that white sharks are predominantly along the Outer Cape is actually quite true based on the data we've collected,' shark biologist for the Division of Marine Fisheries Greg Skomal told the outlet. 'But that's not to say that sharks don't move to other parts of Massachusetts, and we've been able to demonstrate that occasionally they do enter Buzzards Bay.' 'The best approach is that if you see a shark, don't panic. The probability of being bitten is very, very low,' he said. 'Nonetheless, if you're concerned about your safety, just move away calmly and avoid interacting with the shark in any way.'
