Derryn Hinch, a prominent Australian broadcaster and former federal senator, died on July 10 at the age of 82 after a prolonged health battle. His death occurred in his sleep at his home, as confirmed by his former colleague Annette Philpott.
Philpott indicated that Hinch's passing was attributed to old age, with his health having been fragile in recent times, involving multiple hospitalizations. "I'm assuming his heart just gave out," she stated, adding that he had achieved his wish of dying in his own bed.
In the hours leading up to his death, Hinch shared a social media post featuring a photograph of his brother, Des, enjoying a beer outdoors. Hinch captioned the image, "A casual pic of my brother, Des, who is usually very earnest." This post was shared on Thursday afternoon, and Hinch died later that night.
Hinch, who referred to himself as the 'Human Headline,' had previously disclosed on social media in April that he was "not very well." Despite his health challenges, he expressed a positive outlook, stating he was still active, happy, and appreciating his time. "Maybe one more year or 10. Who knows? So enjoy. Appreciate still being here. Just do it. Be positive," he wrote.
Born in New Zealand, Hinch had a career spanning over four decades in media, beginning in radio in Sydney and Melbourne before transitioning to television. He was elected to the Australian Senate in 2016, serving a three-year term during which he advocated for a national child sex offenders register and other criminal justice reforms.
Hinch was reportedly in a relationship with actress and animal rights activist Lynda Stoner in the years preceding his death. He is also associated with the phrase "shame, shame, shame," though this catchphrase was originally popularized by Steve Vizard on the 1990s comedy show Fast Forward.