FIVEaa Breakfast host David Penberthy pays tearful tribute to Grant Stevens over death of Charlie

Radio host David Penberthy was overcome with emotion on Monday morning as he spoke about the heartbreaking death of the son of Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Listen to it here.

FIVEaa Breakfast host David Penberthy could not hold back tears on Monday morning as the state tries to come to terms with the tragic death of the son of SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

Charlie Stevens died in hospital after he was struck in an alleged hit-run crash at Goolwa beach on Friday night.

Penbo told listeners on Monday morning he was devastated for the police leader who always acted for the greater good.

David Penberthy and Will Goodings. Picture: File

“I’ve been feeling physically sick all weekend and I think so many people have too … it feels like we are all involved in this,” he said.

“It is genuinely unfathomable … it’s actually really hard to talk about, it’s really hard to make sense of, it’s hard to process it.

“Five days ago the bloke is sitting here as he always does, driven by his love for the people of the state pleading with us to take more care on the roads and two days after that interview his son, his family, they are the story.”

Penbo paid tribute to the selflessness of Commissioner Stevens and his duty to the people of SA.

“We do a good job in the media, and it’s part of our job, of holding public officials to account when they fail to meet the test … no one would ever question Grant,” he said.

“Throughout Covid, he knowingly brought in restrictions for the greater good, cognisant of the fact it would stop his own daughter from getting married the following weekend.

“He didn’t complain, didn’t even talk about it publicly – we knew about it, he said he didn’t want to talk about it and look like some victim.

“He’s a total no bullsh*t person, we don’t become friends with many people we interview … but we love this bloke.”

Charlie Stevens and Grant Stevens. Picture: Supplied

Fellow FIVEaa presenter Will Goodings said the loss was felt by the whole South Australian community.

“The guy was on the news every day for two years … he ran the state in a way that none else has in the history since federation for two years, there’s no more well known person,” he said.

“There’s a reason everyone collectively feels awful.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Adelaide breakfast radio this morning Commissioner Stevens was a “strong man of extraordinary integrity” but a “human being who loves his family”.

“For the news to emerge that Commissioner Stevens and his beautiful family have had to endure this heartbreaking tragedy is difficult to comprehend and difficult to put into words,” he said.

“I think the outpouring of South Australians more broadly speaks to the compassionate society we live in, particularly in difficult times.”