TRIBUTES for veteran Channel Ten reporter Harry Potter are flowing in after his death overnight.

The 72-year-old lost his lengthy battle with cancer last night and family and former colleagues quickly paid their respects.

Potter had a long career at the network after joining TEN Eyewitness News in 1978.

His family issued a statement this morning, describing him as “the definition of a larger-than-life character”.

media_camera Harry Potter, journalist and newsreader on assignment. He died overnight after a long battle with cancer.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce our much-loved husband, father and father-in-law Harry, passed away last night, surrounded by his family,” it said.

“We were lucky to have the last month with Harry to reflect on so many wonderful times and to ensure this period was filled with love, music and laughter.

“Harry was first diagnosed with cancer more than a decade ago and the subsequent years we have enjoyed with Harry have been a blessing.

“We would like to thank Harry’s many friends and colleagues for their love, prayers and support over many years.

“We particularly want to thank all the doctors, nurses and hospital staff for their incredible skill, care and dedication. You are truly amazing people.

Tribute to Harry Potter

“Harry inspired us all with his tremendous fighting spirit, love of life and dedication to his family, friends and colleagues.

“Harry is the definition of a larger-than-life character and he will be with us forever.”

Potter was a mainstay in the Network Ten newsroom for 32 years. He joined Eyewitness News at in 1978, where his wife, Katrina Lee, was a newsreader.

In 2013 he became the first recipient of the Les Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Network Ten Chief Executive Officer Hamish McLennan said: “Harry Potter was a giant of Australian journalism and devoted more than 50 years of his life to the profession.

“He defined crime reporting for a generation and his legacy remains a major part of the newsroom at TEN.

media_camera Legendary Journalist Harry Potter enjoying some happy times.

“Harry was in the front row of Australian police and crime reporting for the past half-century and became a household name, bringing Australia’s criminal underworld and all of its colourful characters into the lounge rooms of Ten’s viewers.”

Eyewitness News presenter Sandra Sully said: “The simplest way to sum up our regard for Harry Potter is that every year our newsroom honours the best ‘Journalist of the Year’ with the Harry Potter Award ... We are all so incredibly sad yet humbled to have known him and worked with him.

“He was and will remain a towering figure to all of us and we are grieving his loss.”

Ten’s executive director of news and current affairs, Peter Meakin, said Potter had a unique style, impeccable police contacts and genuine care for victims of crime.

“He was held in the highest regard not only by his family at Ten, but by the many police, families, journalists and cameramen he has worked with over the years.

Potter is survived by wife Katrina Lee, and his children Tim, Nick, Elisa and Jack.