Journalist breaks down on air after parents die from Covid
A reporter has broken down on air while candidly sharing her grief over the loss of both her parents to Covid-19.
Cathy Killick, a reporter for BBC, told viewers this week of how her dad Ted died in his aged home on December 2 aged 87, and her mum Elizabeth died less than six weeks later at her home on January 12.
The British reporter, who works on the program Look North, paid tribute to interview subjects who had historically been brave enough to share their stories in times of strife.
"I've been a reporter for the BBC for more than 30 years. In that time I've interviewed dozens of people who have experienced loss. I've done my best to convey their emotion faithfully, not having experienced it myself. Now I find I am one of those people," she said.
Due to lockdown restrictions, Killick said she had only been able to visit her parents, who lived together in Leeds before her dad was moved to a home, "a handful of times" before they died.
Elizabeth had a stroke two days before Ted's funeral and later died at home.
Killick expressed it was her desire to "give a voice to the bereaved" by speaking openly about her loss.
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"I know as a reporter it's really hard to give a voice to the bereaved...It's easier to find people affected financially by the lockdown, but I know there are hundreds and thousands of people like me, just holed up really, just sad and grieving loved ones," she said.
The reporter shared a series of photos of her parents, who had been married for 63 years.
She also paid tribute to the health workers responsible for caring for both of her parents in their final days, crediting them for risking their lives to help others in need.
"I won't have a word said against them, they were dedicated and unflagging," she said.
She added the pandemic would only meet its end "with kindness and support for the people around us".
"This virus exploits us, it exploits our selfishness and it exploits the love we feel for people and how we want to be with them and I can't wait for it to be over.
"But that's only going to happen with kindness and support for the people around us because that truly is the best of us, the best of what makes us human."
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