Today host sweating bullets over breaking $17,000 prototype
On April 1, it's a given most Aussies will be subject to a cheeky prank or two in the office today.
But in the always... ALWAYS professional world of journalism and breakfast television, one of the Today host's genuinely did not expect to be caught out this April Fool's Day.
Sydney sports presenter James Bracey has been filling in for Karl this past fortnight and was nailing his interview with Today tech expert Trevor Long this morning.
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The drone was apparently a $17,000 prototype. Today
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Long was on the show to discuss the importance of drone technology and how it's revolutionising disaster response around Australia.
Or at least that's what Bracey was led to believe.
Long brought in the Flare Site X1 drone, a device with infrared vision and designed to detect heat signatures in real time.
Touted as a game changer, Long warned Bracey and Sarah Abo how careful they had to be with the one he brought in.
"Essentially, this is a prototype, they've made 100 of them, but this is the only one in Australia," Long said.
"It's worth like $17,000, obviously, if they could make more and there was more demand from governments, the price might come down."
Bracey donned a pair of goggles to try the device out, but when Long carefully handed him the drone, things went south very quickly.
Bracey dropped the drone (in all fairness Long wasn't really careful in handing it over), and you could hear a pin drop in the studio.
"Hang on, what just happened? Did we just break a $17,000 drone?" Abo asked her guest.
Long was quick to reply "yes" and suggested the Today control room cut to an emergency commercial break.
"Well, that's the sensor that I said was the most expensive part of the whole thing and it has a crack right through the middle of it," he said.
Bracey was sweating bullets before he realised what was happening. Today
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Bracey's face was ghost white as he took the goggles off, but despite their best efforts - he picked up on what Long and Abo were trying to do.
"Is this April Fool's? This is April Fool's!" he yelled.
"Don't do that to me, that was so good, but oh so cruel. Are you kidding?
"I had a blood rush and sweat under my boobs, that was such a good prank - but this is workplace harassment."
See Bracey's reaction when he realised it was a prank in the video above
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