‘Thought I was going to die’: Aussie journo held at knifepoint in LA

The NRL’s Las Vegas trip has inadvertently put several journos at risk after a pair of terrifying incidents ahead of the historic double-header.

Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam at a press conference in LA. Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

An Aussie journalist has revealed he “thought I was going to die” after being cornered by three cars ahead of the NRL’s historic Las Vegas double-header on Sunday (Australian time).

However, the reporter is not alone as there have been at least two incidents as reported by News Corp, including another reporter who was confronted by a knife-wielding man.

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Ahead of the NRL’s historic first season-opening double header in Sin City, a news crew was working after midnight due to the time zone difference between the US and Australia.

Both crews were covering the Broncos in Los Angeles, where the club have been in camp before travelling to Vegas ahead of their clash with the Roosters.

Midnight in Las Vegas and Los Angeles is 6pm in Brisbane and 7pm in Sydney, with the one hour difference due to daylight savings time.

One of the crews was preparing for a live cross after the Broncos’ final training session in LA at around 12.40am but due to hotel management where the team are staying not allowing reporters to film directly outside their premises, set up on a private property away from the hotel.

It was then three cars approached from different directions, cornering the team and leaving their engines running about 30m away.

The reporter, speaking to News Corp on the condition of anonymity, said: “It was the first time in my life that I thought I was going to die.

“The honest feeling was we were either going to be robbed or killed.

“I was genuinely worried about not surviving.”

Kevin Walters fronting the media. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The reporter believes that making a call to a family member and his employer may have saved their lives.

“It was the most terrifying experience of my life,” he said.

It comes 24 hours after another Australian reporter was confronted by a man wielding a knife while preparing for a report from Santa Monica.

The man accused the reporter of damaging his car.

When the reporter denied any wrongdoing, the man reportedly put the knife away and left the scene.

“To be honest, as Australian media covering the NRL, we were not fully aware of the dangers of working at night in this country,” the reporter said.

“We were simply naive.

“Everybody talks about LA being dangerous and coming from Australia.

“This is a great city but it’s a dangerous city after dark if you get off the bright lights in isolated areas.

“I’m just relieved we came out in one piece.”