Bre Payton: Fox News pundit and The Federalist writer dies suddenly aged 26

Journalist was diagnosed with meningitis and swine flu before death, friend says

Bre Payton, a journalist and Fox News commentator, has died at the age of 26.

She passed away on Friday in San Diego following a sudden illness, her employer — conservative online magazine The Federalist — said on its website.

A friend, Morgan Murtaugh, said on Twitter she found Ms Payton unconscious on Thursday morning before doctors diagnosed her with meningitis and H1N1 influenza - also known as swine flu.

"Thank you everyone for your prayers," Ms Murtaugh wrote later. "It is with a heavy heart that I type this. Unfortunately Bre has passed."

In recent appearances on Fox News, Ms Payton had condemned what she called "fake news" media coverage of Donald Trump and "sexist and bigoted" coverage of first lady Melania Trump.

An obituary in The Federalist called Ms Payton "joyful, hard-working, and compassionate." It said she had a deep Christian faith.

In a tweet, Meghan McCain, daughter of late senator John McCain, called Ms Payton "a wonderful, fearless, vibrant, intelligent young woman".

The Federalist said Ms Payton was awarded a journalism degree in 2015 from Patrick Henry College in Virginia and joined its team that April.

She later appeared as a guest commentator on the Fox News Channel and One America News Network.

Ms Payton was survived by her parents, George and Cindy; siblings James, Jack, Christina and Cheekie; and boyfriend Ryan Colby, The Federalist said.