Channel Seven’s Alissa Ballin shares the terrifying on-air moment with a stranger—and her surprising link to a footy favourite
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For most, the idea of a late-night stroll along Santa Monica Beach conjures up images of moonlit waves and the distant hum of city lights—not a heart-stopping encounter with a knife-wielding stranger and his pet bird.
But for Channel Seven’s Alissa Ballin, this surreal and frightening scenario became all too real while she was on assignment in Los Angeles, just minutes before a live broadcast.
Alissa, a seasoned reporter known for her poise under pressure, was in LA covering the NRL season opener—a historic moment for rugby league, as the game made its American debut.
But as she and her cameraman prepared for a midnight live cross, the unexpected happened. Out of the shadows, a man approached, accused them of damaging his car, and, in a flash, produced a knife.
To add to the bizarre scene, a bird perched calmly on his shoulder, as if it were just another night on the town.
‘We were ready to cross live. I had my earpiece in and was just moments away from beaming back into viewers’ living rooms,’ Alissa recalled. ‘With his pet bird sitting on his shoulder, he abruptly approached my cameraman and I with a knife and threatened us and asked us to leave the area.’
Despite the immediate danger, Alissa and her cameraman kept their cool, trying to de-escalate the situation with calm words and steady nerves.
‘The thought that he pulled a knife so quickly and easily made us wonder what else he was carrying,’ she admitted. ‘I'm just relieved we came out in one piece.’
The standoff, which lasted only minutes but felt like an eternity, ended when the man finally backed away, allowing Alissa to proceed with her live cross as if nothing had happened. Viewers at home were none the wiser.
Behind the scenes, Alissa quietly whispered into her mic, ‘He’s got a knife, he’s got a knife,’ hoping the studio would pick up on the urgency.
Also read: 'We'll never ever forget that': TV presenter shares heartbreaking experience on Mother's Day
Her composure under such duress didn’t go unnoticed—Channel Seven executives praised her professionalism, and police later tracked down the man involved.
Unfortunately, Alissa’s experience isn’t unique for journalists working overseas, especially in major cities like Los Angeles, where the line between glamour and danger can be razor-thin.
Another TV crew in Westlake Village faced their own terrifying ordeal when three vehicles cornered them during a shoot, only escaping when a quick-thinking crew member made a phone call that scared off the would-be attackers.
‘We were simply naive,’ Alissa reflected. ‘This is a great city but it’s a dangerous city after dark if you get off the bright lights in isolated areas.’
But Alissa’s story isn’t just about danger and drama—it’s also about resilience, family, and a deep love of rugby league. Away from the camera, Alissa’s life is intertwined with the sport, thanks to her husband, Matt Ballin.
A former Manly Sea Eagles star and current Queensland State of Origin assistant coach, Matt’s career has seen him play over 200 NRL games, win two premierships, and represent Queensland at the highest level.
‘Last season, when it was announced he would succeed Cameron Smith as Maroons assistant coach, I was fortunate enough to present that story on air that night,’ Alissa shared.
She even hosted Queensland’s State of Origin launch, interviewing Matt alongside legends Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston—a true family affair for rugby league fans.
Also read: 'It's how you bounce back': Footy legend shares massive update after life-changing surgery
Footy is more than just a job for the Ballins; it’s a way of life. ‘We both watch every single game of footy across every weekend,’ Alissa said. ‘It would be strange for anything else to be on our TV at home other than footy.’
Yet, despite their shared passion, the couple have established healthy boundaries between work and home. ‘There’s an unspoken respect between us, where I don’t ask questions about the inner workings of his footy club, and he doesn’t tell,’ she explained.
State of Origin season is especially intense, with Matt fully immersed in his coaching role. ‘Origin is a huge time and emotional commitment,’ Alissa said. ‘Matt puts in so much time and effort to help prepare the Qld players to play their best.’
Losses hit hard—after a tough Game One defeat at Suncorp Stadium, Matt took it to heart. But, as Alissa points out, it’s those setbacks that fuel his drive. And after Queensland’s gritty Game Two win, the relief and satisfaction were palpable.
Read next: The horrifying moment police unleashed pepper spray and taser on a 92-year-old amputee
Have you ever found yourself in a dangerous or unexpected situation while travelling or working? Or do you have a family tradition that brings you together, like the Ballins and their love of footy? We’d love to hear your stories—share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
But for Channel Seven’s Alissa Ballin, this surreal and frightening scenario became all too real while she was on assignment in Los Angeles, just minutes before a live broadcast.
Alissa, a seasoned reporter known for her poise under pressure, was in LA covering the NRL season opener—a historic moment for rugby league, as the game made its American debut.
But as she and her cameraman prepared for a midnight live cross, the unexpected happened. Out of the shadows, a man approached, accused them of damaging his car, and, in a flash, produced a knife.
To add to the bizarre scene, a bird perched calmly on his shoulder, as if it were just another night on the town.
‘We were ready to cross live. I had my earpiece in and was just moments away from beaming back into viewers’ living rooms,’ Alissa recalled. ‘With his pet bird sitting on his shoulder, he abruptly approached my cameraman and I with a knife and threatened us and asked us to leave the area.’
Channel Seven reporter Alissa Ballin had a terrifying encounter with a knife-wielding man while preparing for a live cross in Los Angeles, managing to stay calm and composed throughout the ordeal. Image source: @alissasmith / Instagram.
Despite the immediate danger, Alissa and her cameraman kept their cool, trying to de-escalate the situation with calm words and steady nerves.
‘The thought that he pulled a knife so quickly and easily made us wonder what else he was carrying,’ she admitted. ‘I'm just relieved we came out in one piece.’
The standoff, which lasted only minutes but felt like an eternity, ended when the man finally backed away, allowing Alissa to proceed with her live cross as if nothing had happened. Viewers at home were none the wiser.
Behind the scenes, Alissa quietly whispered into her mic, ‘He’s got a knife, he’s got a knife,’ hoping the studio would pick up on the urgency.
Also read: 'We'll never ever forget that': TV presenter shares heartbreaking experience on Mother's Day
Her composure under such duress didn’t go unnoticed—Channel Seven executives praised her professionalism, and police later tracked down the man involved.
Unfortunately, Alissa’s experience isn’t unique for journalists working overseas, especially in major cities like Los Angeles, where the line between glamour and danger can be razor-thin.
Another TV crew in Westlake Village faced their own terrifying ordeal when three vehicles cornered them during a shoot, only escaping when a quick-thinking crew member made a phone call that scared off the would-be attackers.
‘We were simply naive,’ Alissa reflected. ‘This is a great city but it’s a dangerous city after dark if you get off the bright lights in isolated areas.’
Away from reporting, Ballin’s personal life is closely tied to rugby league through her marriage to former NRL player and current Maroons assistant coach, Matt Ballin; the couple share a deep love of footy. Image source: @alissasmith / Instagram.
But Alissa’s story isn’t just about danger and drama—it’s also about resilience, family, and a deep love of rugby league. Away from the camera, Alissa’s life is intertwined with the sport, thanks to her husband, Matt Ballin.
A former Manly Sea Eagles star and current Queensland State of Origin assistant coach, Matt’s career has seen him play over 200 NRL games, win two premierships, and represent Queensland at the highest level.
‘Last season, when it was announced he would succeed Cameron Smith as Maroons assistant coach, I was fortunate enough to present that story on air that night,’ Alissa shared.
She even hosted Queensland’s State of Origin launch, interviewing Matt alongside legends Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston—a true family affair for rugby league fans.
Also read: 'It's how you bounce back': Footy legend shares massive update after life-changing surgery
Footy is more than just a job for the Ballins; it’s a way of life. ‘We both watch every single game of footy across every weekend,’ Alissa said. ‘It would be strange for anything else to be on our TV at home other than footy.’
Yet, despite their shared passion, the couple have established healthy boundaries between work and home. ‘There’s an unspoken respect between us, where I don’t ask questions about the inner workings of his footy club, and he doesn’t tell,’ she explained.
State of Origin season is especially intense, with Matt fully immersed in his coaching role. ‘Origin is a huge time and emotional commitment,’ Alissa said. ‘Matt puts in so much time and effort to help prepare the Qld players to play their best.’
Losses hit hard—after a tough Game One defeat at Suncorp Stadium, Matt took it to heart. But, as Alissa points out, it’s those setbacks that fuel his drive. And after Queensland’s gritty Game Two win, the relief and satisfaction were palpable.
Read next: The horrifying moment police unleashed pepper spray and taser on a 92-year-old amputee
Have you ever found yourself in a dangerous or unexpected situation while travelling or working? Or do you have a family tradition that brings you together, like the Ballins and their love of footy? We’d love to hear your stories—share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
