Natalie Barr breaks down in tears live on-air as she pays tribute to her ... trends now

Natalie Barr broke down in tears as she remembered her Sunrise colleague Nathan Templeton on Thursday's breakfast show following his shock death at the age of 44.

Templeton suffered a medical episode on Monday evening while on a walking track near the Barwon River in Geelong, leaving behind wife Kate and their two young sons Jack and James. 

After playing a montage of Templeton's time on the program, a grief-stricken Barr cried as she paid tribute to the father-of-two and thanked him for 'brightening everyone's lives'. 

'We know you had more stories to tell them (our viewers). We are sorry you can't tell them. Our hearts go out to our family, your two little boys, Kate, and everyone who knew you inside this building and across the Seven Network,' she said.

'But also so many of you who have written in and just said that you felt like you knew him because of how he... How he conducted himself on-air. 

'Thank you, Tempo, for brightening our lives. We are so fortunate to have known you and worked alongside you. You will be missed.'

Sunrise news reporter Edwina Bartholomew also shared a tribute Templeton on Wednesday evening, after tragic news of his death broke.

Bartholomew, 40, shared her grief and condolences on Instagram and revealed what she loved most about her fellow reporter.

'This is how I will remember Nathan. His gravelly voice. His intense passion for all things sport, especially his poolside interviews,' she penned.

'He had a knack for getting the best out of athletes, even when they were disappointed in their own performance.'

She finished with: 'He adored his boys. He will be missed.' 

More of Templeton's friends and colleagues also issued tributes on social media.

Journalist Roger Oldridge wrote: 'Almost everyone is labelled a "great bloke" once they're gone, but Nathan Templeton truly was.

'Viewers got to see the incredibly talented reporter; colleagues and friends got so much more. One of the funniest people you'd meet. So many great times. My heart goes out to those boys.'

Perth mayor and former Seven colleague Basil Zempilas shared a photo from their coverage of the Gold Coast games in 2018.

'This is how I'll remember Nathan. Always happy, so reliable, incredibly hard-working and just so good to have on the team,' he wrote.

'He was team first. Always. That smile made everyone smile, his colleagues, his friends, the athletes, the audience. 

'We'll miss you, little mate, my deepest condolences to Kate and the boys - your dad was a champion, we'll never forget him.'

Former journalist Hamish Jones said he was one 'one of the nicest guys in television news you could hope to meet'. 

TV presenter Ryan Phelan said he was 'heartbroken' by Templeton's passing. 

'He was an incredibly talented and hardworking colleague but I will treasure our conversations post Channel 7,' he wrote on X. 

'Sending love to his young family'.

Seven presenter Rebecca Maddern, who grew up with Templeton in Geelong, wrote on Instagram: 'We are so very sad.

'Nathan loved the Geelong Cats as much as me, we went to the same school, worked at the same network and… he was a fine broadcaster, especially poolside at the Olympics where he truly excelled.

'We shared the news desk often and he was so much fun. Rest in peace, Nathan… we are heartbroken.'

3AW football host Matt Granland described Templeton as a 'kind and gentle soul taken way too soon'. 

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