John McWethy, Ex-ABC Newsman, Dies In Skiing Accident

ABC News reports the death of their longtime correspondent, John McWethy:

John McWethy, a longtime national security correspondent -- who, ABC News president David Westin said, "represented the very best of ABC News" -- has died at age 61 after a skiing accident in Keystone, Colo.

McWethy died of blunt force chest injuries after witnesses said he missed a turn on an intermediate trail this morning, and slid chest first into a tree, Summit County, Colo., coroner Joanne Richardson told The Associated Press. McWethy was pronounced dead at 2:05 p.m., Richardson said.

As national security correspondent, McWethy reported extensively on the lead up to the war in Iraq as well as reporting from Afghanistan. McWethy was a graduate of DePauw University, where he was active with the campus community in his alumni life.

Comments

[EggsAckerly]

Remember those days playing basketball with you in Western Springs, Illinois on Central Avenue in that tennis court by your house. You were a tough opponent.

[glitzqueen]

Gawds, how embarrassing to die on a blue run. And in the early afternoon.

Sorry -- not funny -- but I've escaped injury by following two rules set by the best skier I know: Never get on a run beyond your skill level and never take the last run of the day.

[surfcitysteven]

Blue runs are the closest I have come to buying the farm. Diamonds and Double Ds, you check your speed with turns. You may fall a long way, but the blues are where you really get cooking. Nothing embarrassing here. He was skiing his ass off and hit a tree and died. It happens.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

What does last run of the day mean?

[surfcitysteven]

When you are skiing and you are getting tired, you never say, "This is my last run of the day. It is bad luck. Instead, you wait till you get down the hill, and then you say, "That wwas my last run of the day."

[glitzqueen]

As it was used the advice I quoted, it meant quit one run sooner than you'd like to -- so as not to be too tired and lose control on that "last" one.

[SouthpawSass]

Ouch. And you know that he must have anticipated in the very second before he hit, what pain it would be. Sad loss.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Sad News......Tips up and keep it Falline.

[Danny]

John McWethy had class. I remember his brilliant reporting well. He had not been heard from much since the Iraq invasion. Wonder why ...

[JonathanTroy]

Adios, John. I respected your reporting.

I can still hear in my head: "ABC's John McWethy has more."

[Grulg]

Sorry to hear it-the guy was a good reporter, didn't know he'd retired already. Wow.

[totalliberal]

I love skiing. It feels beautiful, crisp and wonderful. My condolences too the John McWethy family.

[Rockwell]

What is it with winter sports and news anchors? There was story just a few days ago about another reporter that was killed in a snowmobile accident.

If I were in the News industry I'd vacation in Florida.

[Smirk]

That's too bad, but at least he died doing something he loved.

[JayeSutter]

This is one of the more idiotic things people say. That and "it was God's will." Or "that is a character building experience."

It doesn't matter that he loved to ski. He didn't love it when he realized he was going to hit a tree. I hope that he was knocked out and didn't feel anything. He thought about how stupid this "sport" is and how many other people have died hitting trees.

This macho adventurous shit is just stupid. Reminds me of all the guys and gals who thought they were so cool they wouldn't suffer the fate of mere mortals.

JFK, Jr. loved flying. Did that matter to him when he hit the water and killed himself, his wife, and sister in law? No. It didn't matter at all. What we should be aware of is the terrible fear they experienced and keep ourselves and our loved ones from experiencing it.

[surfcitysteven]

You don't understand. Skiing wouldn't be fun except for some fear here and there. If you don't experience the fear in a thrill sport, you aren't living.

[TheGuarantee]

As an avid participant in several "macho adventurous" sports, I say the less people participating, the better. Nothing would make me happier than smaller lift lines and crowds when I'm out doing what I love.

I'd rather die out recreating than in a hospital bed, but that's just me. You can't just hide yourself away fearing death, you have to get out and enjoy life, and this is how some of us choose to do it.