Jock Zonfrillo died aged 46 (Picture: Ten/Getty)
Following Jock Zonfrillo’s death aged 46, it’s been claimed that the Scottish chef was secretly battling bowel cancer.
This week, a statement was released by the MasterChef judge’s family expressing their ‘devastation’ over his shock death, as they said their hearts were ‘shattered’.
The chef’s cause of death has not been confirmed.
A source has since claimed regarding his reported cancer diagnosis: ‘No one in his circle is aware of what he is going through. Neither colleagues or friends.
‘He has not wanted anyone to know as he deals with this tough journey. He is coping poorly with chemo treatment, and the effects it is having.’
It was reported by Daily Mail Australia that Zonfrillo was an out-patient at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Sydney and Epworth Oncology in Melbourne and had treatment in Queensland.
The source also told the publication that Zonfrillo underwent chemotherapy in 2021.
Jock was a judge on Australia MasterChef (Picture: Ten)
A source previously said that he kept the diagnosis secret as ‘he didn’t want people feeling sorry for him’.
On Monday, his family confirmed his death in a statement that read: ‘With completely shattered hearts and without knowing how we can possibly move through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday.’
They added: ‘So many words can describe him, so many stories can be told, but at this time we’re too overwhelmed to put them into words.
Jock was married to Lauren Zonfrillo (Picture: Sam Tabone/WireImage)
‘For those who crossed his path, became his mate, or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scot in your hearts when you have your next whisky.’
Police confirmed Zonfrillo’s death is not being treated as suspicious, with a spokesperson for Victoria Police stating: ‘Police attended a Lygon Street address for a welfare check and located a man deceased about 2 am on May 1.
‘The 46-year-old man’s death is not being treated as suspicious.’
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Soon after the news broke, MasterChef Australia confirmed that it would not air episodes of the TV programme this week.
Zonfrillo is survived by his third wife Lauren Fried and four children.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Jock Zonfrillo.
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The TV personality’s cause of death has not been confirmed.
