EXCLUSIVE: 'This thing is a bloody disgrace': Sunrise presenter Andrew O'Keefe's scathing attack on his own network for following Hugh Sheridan to quake-ravaged Nepal revealed Host slams 'bloody disgrace' of a decision to send crew to Nepal for story Andrew O'Keefe emailed his bosses the night before a scheduled interview 'We fly in and pester them for a chopper so we can make our show,' he said Crew followed Hugh Sheridan to Nepal as actor searched for his brother The story is scheduled to air on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program By LIAM QUINN FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA PUBLISHED: 16:47 EST, 2 May 2015 UPDATED: 22:21 EST, 2 May 2015 Acting Sunrise host Andrew O'Keefe launched a blistering attack on Network Seven's decision to follow actor Hugh Sheridan to earthquake-ravaged Nepal and 'pester' overstretched authorities for a story, Daily Mail Australia can reveal. O'Keefe emailed his Sunrise executive bosses on Thursday evening and expressed his strong disapproval at Seven's actions and requested not to be assigned to an interview for the morning show. He said co-host Samantha Armytage shared his views. 'Sorry to be a pain, but his thing is a bloody disgrace and I see there's already a lot of public backlash about it,' O'Keefe said in the email obtained by Daily Mail Australia. Acting Sunrise co-host Andrew O'Keefe said Network Seven's coverage of actor Hugh Sheridan's trip to Nepal to reunite with his brother who was briefly missing in the Himalayan earthquake disaster was disgraceful, an explosive internal email obtained by Daily Mail Australia reveals
'The Nepalese authorities and Australian consul have specifically asked everyone to leave Nepal if they don't have a need to be there. What do we do? 'We fly in and pester them for a chopper so we can make our show. 'The whole thing is crass and really naughty. 'I respectfully suggest that you don't really want me doing this interview. And I think Sam feels the same, though I'll let her speak for herself on that point.' 'AOK,' he signed off. Daily Mail Australia contacted Channel Seven for comment. On Friday morning, hours after O'Keefe's email, Armytage interviewed Channel Seven's Health Editor Dr Andrew Rochford in Nepal via a live cross. O'Keefe did not take part in the interview. When he first appeared on-screen after Armytage completed it, he urged viewers to 'donate in whatever way feels right' to charities helping in the recovery efforts in Nepal. On Friday morning, hours after O'Keefe's email, Sam Armytage interviewed Channel Seven's Health Editor Dr Andrew Rochford in Nepal via a live cross The death toll from last weekend's magnitude 7.8 has risen to more than 6200, and Nepal's Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said it could reach more than 10,000. About 14,000 remain injured and thousands still unaccounted for after the devastating quake. Eight million people have been affected by the disaster, which has wiped out entire villages, according to the United Nations.
Channel Seven and Sheridan came under fire this week for trying to rent a helicopter in Nepal, as the country is desperately battling with the enormous humanitarian crisis in the wake of the disaster. The station tried to use a chopper to fly Hugh, 29, to his 20-year-old sibling Zachary, who was at Gokyo peak in the Himalayan mountains when the earthquake hit, for an emotional TV reunion for the network's flagship Sunday Night show. The story is called Moving Mountains. Sheridan's brother, Zach, confirmed he was safe via a Facebook on Tuesday after initially being reported missing. The 20-year-old wrote: 'To anyone concerned, thank you for thinking of me...i am safe.'. Actor Hugh Sheridan has arrived in Nepal but Channel Seven have been unable to hire a helicopter to fly him for a TV reunion with his brother Zach, who is in a remote village
On Wednesday. Hugh posted a photo of a collapsed roof in Nepal next to a statue, with directions on how to donate to help a remote village in the district pf Rasuwa Australian Embassy chief Glenn White told Australians in Nepal to 'get out of the country' on Tuesday, as the Australian government stepped up attempts to get people trapped in Nepal home. 'Foreign Affairs is saying reconsider your travel to Kathmandu that's basically saying you should really think about getting out of this country,' Mr White said. 'Those that are thinking of staying should consider why they might want to stay in a place that is already stretched for resources and has already had thousands of people dead and injured - they do not want to become a burden on this country's government.'
Channel Seven is due to air a special on Sheridan's search for his brother on its news program, Sunday Night. The program's executive producer Steve Taylor on Saturday issued a statement defending the segment, calling it 'a powerful report about a terrible natural disaster'. 'A media crew going to a trouble spot and inquiring about transport is not a story. Other media covering the story have done the same,' Mr Taylor's statement says. 'We did not hire a helicopter. We certainly did not seek to put ourselves ahead of any local humanitarian effort. 'The allegation that we would put ourselves ahead of the relief effort is utterly wrong, deeply offensive and a shameful claim. 'When Sunday Night began the journey with Hugh Sheridan, his brother had been missing for days and no one knew if he was alive or dead. We sent Dr Andrew Rochford so he could bring his emergency medical skills and expertise to the analysis of the injuries and the medical relief effort and to help where he could. 'Yesterday he was asked by local authorities to a remote quake-damaged community to do just that. Until his visit today the village has so far missed out on any medical attention.' O'Keefe co-hosts Channel Seven's Weekend Sunrise, and has been hosting the week-day version of the show while regular David Koch is away. O'Keefe got into a heated argument with a guest during a Sunrise segment in January this year, when he branded people who argue Muslims are not doing anything to combat extremism as 'ignorant'.