Following the death of Jock Zonfrillo, 46, it has been claimed that the Scottish chef was secretly battling bowel cancer.
The MasterChef judge’s family issued a statement this week expressing their “devastation” over his untimely passing, saying their hearts were “shattered.”
The chef’s cause of death is unknown.
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.’
Zonfrillo was an outpatient at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre in Sydney and Epworth Oncology in Melbourne, according to the Daily Mail Australia, and received treatment in Queensland.
According to the source, Zonfrillo will undergo chemotherapy in 2021.
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.
‘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.’
MasterChef Australia stated shortly after the news surfaced that no episodes of the TV show will run this week.
Lauren Fried, Zonfrillo’s third wife, and their four children survive him.
