Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Elle Macpherson adviser gives kidney to newsman she met over hacking

 

James Cusick
Wednesday 01 May 2013 16:39 EDT
Comments
Mary Ellen Field; broadcast newsman Mark Colvin
Mary Ellen Field; broadcast newsman Mark Colvin (Jason Alden)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

One of the first people to launch a legal action against News International over phone hacking has donated a kidney to a journalist she met while he was covering the case.

Mary Ellen Field, a former business adviser to the model Elle Macpherson, met broadcast newsman Mark Colvin, a fellow Australian, while he worked on the story.

A few months ago Mr Colvin was described as being at death's door and in urgent need of a kidney transplant because of a virus contracted in Rwanda 20 years ago. The transplant took place on 22 March and Ms Field described the donation as "one of the most important things I've done".

Ms Field told the Leveson Inquiry that she had been accused of being an untrustworthy alcoholic and "bullied" into attending a rehab in Arizona after Macpherson and her legal advisers believed she was the source of personal private material. Ms Field, who claimed she was sacked when she came out of rehab, said there had "never been any truth" behind the allegations and quoted a doctor telling her: "We don't accept kidneys from drunken lunatics."

If a hearing in her case against News International later this month goes against Ms Field, she may be left bankrupt.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in