BREAKING: TV legend D!3S as heartbroken colleague makes tragic on-air announcement

Former ABC News correspondent Jim Avila has di3d at the age of 69. Anchor Diane Macedo announced the tragic news on Thursday morning in a heartbreaking statement. Mr Avila had undergone a kidney transplant in 2020, and the organ had been donated by his brother. ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic also paid tribute and said: “We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, including his three children, Jamie, Jenny, and Evan, and we thank him for his many contributions and unwavering commitment to seeking out the truth.” He was a senior national correspondent for the network and covered Barack Obama’s second term as US President.

ABC News also posted a tribute on X, stating: “Jim Avila, a former longtime @ABC News senior correspondent, whose investigative journalism earned him several of the most prestigious awards in broadcast news, has di3d. He was 69.”

One devastated fan said: “Honestly, this one hits hard. Jim Avila was a titan in journalism—someone who did the tough, behind-the-scenes work that most of us can only hope to replicate. It’s wild to think of all the stories he uncovered, all the lives impacted by his reporting. The media world just lost a giant. Makes you pause and think about the people who made it possible for all of us to even know what was going on. He’ll be missed. 69 is far too young.”

A second also paid tribute and commented: “A massive loss for broadcast journalism. Jim Avila was a titan whose investigative work didn’t just report the news—it changed policy and held power accountable. His standards are the gold standard. Rest in peace.”

A third also said in the comment section: “RIP Mr. Avila, representation matters and Avila was a pioneer surname in general market media, thank you for opening doors for others.”

A fourth chimed in: “Sad news. Jim Avila was a respected journalist whose work informed and inspired many. His contributions to ABC News and ’20/20′ will be remembered. Rest in peace.”

Mr Avila started his broadcasting career in 1973 at San Francisco’s KCBS radio. He also worked at multiple local TV stations, including LA’s KNBC, WBBM in Chicago, and KPIX in San Francisco.

Additionally, he served as a national correspondent for NBC Nightly News before joining ABC News.