Sky News reporter Colin Brazier has apologised and admitted he 'got things wrong' when he rifled through dead passengers' possessions - including picking up a child's pink water flask - at the scene of the MH17 crash.

The presenter sparked outrage when he was captured in a live broadcast picking items – including a set of keys and a toothbrush – out of open luggage before saying: ‘We really shouldn’t be doing this, I suppose.’

Among his detractors were family members of a crash victim, who described his actions as 'sick' and Prime Minister David Cameron who called it 'completely inappropriate'.

Brazier has now issued a public apology for his actions at the scene of the 'warzone' crash site.

He wrote in The Guardian: 'At the weekend I got things wrong. If there was someone to apologise to in person, I would.

Certainly it was a serious error of judgement. I acknowledged that and so did Sky. My bosses issued an apology by tea-time.'

During his live to air piece at the scene he spotted a victim's pink drinking flask that was identical to one possessed by his six-year-old daughter.

He then said he 'lost it' and broke out in tears while on air as he bent down to touch the victims' possessions.

Leeds University student Richard Mayne was one of ten Britons to die when the Malaysia Airlines jet crashed in Ukraine on Thursday.

Speaking from the family home in Leicester, Richard Mayne’s older brother Thomas, 24, branded it 'sick' adding: 'I think it's totally out of order. It's not on.'

Last night Prime Minister David Cameron also condemned the reporter's actions branding it 'completely inappropriate'.

Sky News has refused to say whether disciplinary action will be taken against the veteran reporter, or whether there are any plans for him to return.

In a statement they added: ‘Whilst presenting from the site of the MH17 air crash, Colin Brazier reflected on the human tragedy of the event and showed audiences the content of one of the victims’ bags. Colin immediately recognised that this was inappropriate and said so on air.

‘Both Colin and Sky News apologise profusely for any offence caused.’

Brazier later gave a moving account of coming across scores of human remains at the site.

Meanwhile, an ABC reporter who has been criticised for touching clothes and debris from the MH17 plane crash has defended his actions saying 'it's not as though it's a crime scene'.