Sky News cameraman shot dead in Egypt amid ongoing clashes

Sky News cameraman Mick Deane (61) was shot dead while covering clashes in Egypt, the broadcaster has said.

British prime minister David Cameron said on Twitter: “I am saddened to hear of the death of cameraman Mick Deane, covering Egyptian violence. My thoughts are with his family and Sky News team.”

Head of Sky News John Ryley described Deane as “the very best of cameramen, a brilliant journalist and an inspiring mentor to many at Sky”.

Deane had worked for the BSkyB-owned news channel for 15 years, based in Washington and then Jerusalem. He was married with two sons.

Mr Ryley added: “Everyone at Sky News is shocked and saddened by Mick’s death. He was a talented and experienced journalist who had worked with Sky News for many years. The loss of a much-loved colleague will be deeply felt across Sky News. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family. We will give them our full support at this extremely difficult time.”

Channel 4 News reporter Matt Frei said on Twitter: “So shocked and sad to hear that my old friend Mick Deane has been killed in Cairo. Great friend, great cameraman. He survived cancer.”

Speaking on Sky News, its foreign affairs editor Tim Marshall said he was “a gentleman”.

He said: “Yeah, he was a cameraman-journalist but more than anything the guy was funny, he was wise, he kept his counsel, when he gave his counsel it was well worth listening to and he was just a guy you liked being around. “That’s pretty high tribute”.

He added: “Micky Deane was a great cameraman, but he was - which is far more important - a great human being.”