ITV News reporter Emily Morgan has died at the age of 45, the network has confirmed. In a statement on the ITN website, they said that the health and science editor had passed away after a 'short battle with lung cancer'.
Emily had worked for ITN for 23 years. She played a key role in the broadcaster's coverage of the Covid pandemic.
Chris Ship, the channel's royal editor, took to Twitter to pay tribute to his 'dear friend', reports MirrorOnline.
He said: "She was such a beautiful person and a dear friend. As Health Editor, Emily was fearless in reporting Covid to the nation in 2020.
"Talented, kind, full of humanity. She was 45."
The editor of ITV Network News, Andrew Dagnell spoke of Emily's dedication in his tribute to her.
He said: "Her reporting was instrumental in exposing the immense pressure and strain that NHS workers were under, and she became a trusted voice for the public during an unprecedented time. Emily's passion for the role was evident in everything she did and her work was a constant reminder of why journalism matters.
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"Her dedication to informing and educating our viewers will continue to inspire all those who were privileged to work alongside her. Our thoughts are with Emily's family.
"Emily was proud to be a journalist, but she was even more proud of her family. She adored them.
"We are sending them our love and support at this unthinkably difficult time. Emily was an exceptional journalist, a devoted mother and wife, and a true trailblazer in our field. Her friendship, her professionalism and her enormous contribution to our industry and to the public conversation will not be forgotten."
Emily's colleague Catherine Jones has also tweeted about Emily's death.
"With sadness I am sharing awful news about my ITN colleague Emily Morgan," she wrote.
"We have both covered health news for many years, and I could always count on her on a professional and a personal level. A truly lovely individual; in an industry where most people have flaws, she had none."
Another colleague, Lucrezia Millarini, tweeted: "What a privilege to have known, laughed with and worked with this wonderful woman. I'm so sorry she's gone.
"Our newsroom and our programmes will not be the same. Every bit of love to Emily's family. I can't imagine their loss right now."
While NHS England added: "Everyone at NHS England deeply saddened to hear this terrible news. Emily was a brilliant journalist whose coverage of Covid in particular was exceptional. She will be hugely missed and our thoughts are with her colleagues, friends and, most of all, her family."
