SUNRISE co-host David Koch left his co-stars visibly stunned on-air this morning when he made a reference to slavery during a news item about Jamaican-born athlete Usain Bolt.

Koch was on a panel alongside co-host Sam Armytage, newsreader Natalie Barr and sports reporter Mark Beretta as Baretta read out a story about sporting great Bolt possibly being headhunted from his current position at the Central Coast Mariners Football Club.

"So the Mariners sell him for money, they make a lot of money out of it?" asked Koch.

"It's a win-win: You keep him, great. You sell him, so be it. That's the tough world of professional football," said Beretta.

"Who said slavery was over - anyway. No," said Koch, stumbling over his words before quickly changing topic.

The cameras soon cut away from the host - but not before the rest of the panel reacted to Koch's clanger:

The unfortunate comment didn't go unnoticed by Sunrise viewers:

News.com.au has contacted Sunrise for comment.