Celebrity chef Jock Zonfrillo was discovered useless inside a Melbourne resort simply metres away from the house his household had just lately moved out of to make a contemporary begin abroad.
Zonfrillo, 46, was discovered useless by police about 2am on Monday following a welfare verify at boutique resort Zagame’s House in inner-city Carlton.
The swanky resort, which gives rooms for $650 an evening, eerily backs onto the rental house Zonfrillo had lived in along with his household since 2020.
Local business house owners say they witnessed police automobiles arriving on the resort within the early hours of Monday.
Zagame’s House administration denied the MasterChef choose died at their resort when contacted by news.com.au, regardless of quite a few stories confirming police had been known as to the constructing.
Zonfrillo, his spouse and their two younger children had reportedly packed up their luggage and moved to the Italian metropolis of Rome simply three weeks earlier than his loss of life.
Their house was positioned again on the rental marketplace for $3000 every week in April.
A neighbour of Zonfrillo within the Carlton terrace the place he and his household had lived informed Seven News on Tuesday that Zonfrillo “left three weeks ago”.
Carlton resident Stuart Ayer stated: “He left about three weeks ago. Obviously he’s come back and who knows what happened.”
Zonfrillo’s household introduced the MasterChef choose’s loss of life in a press release on Monday afternoon.
“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,” his household stated in a press release.
“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.
“We implore you to please let us grieve privately as we find a way to navigate through this and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend.”
Tributes have poured in from all around the world for the late chef.
“I’m in total shock to wake up to the sudden death of chef Jock Zonfrillo. We had the best time working together for this years master chef, I can’t tell how good it was to work with him!” Jamie Oliver stated on Instagram.
“Jock was very generous to me with his time and spirit in the show and for that I was really grateful … Mellisa, Andy & Jock work as the most inspiring judges and mentors and each have there very own unique view and style…Jock will be so very missed…I can’t believe I’m writing this…”
“Saddened by the devastating news of Jock Zonfrillo‘s passing. I truly enjoyed the time we spent together on MasterChef in Australia,” Gordon Ramsay said on Twitter.
“My deepest condolences and sincere thoughts. I am utterly devastated. We spoke recently,” celebrity chef Joey Vargetto said.
Contestants on the show who spent considerable time with Mr Zonfrillo also expressed their sadness at the loss.
“I’m so shocked… relaxation in peace chef, my coronary heart and condolences to family members,” MasterChef contestant Reynold Poernomo stated on Instagram.
“So sad to hear this. Rest in peace Jock. You will be missed,” fellow contestant Brendan Pang stated.
The in style TV character had flown again to Australia for the launch of the fifteenth season of the competitors cooking present, the place he was a choose.
Zonfrillo was scheduled to participate in quite a few media interviews each forward of and following the primary episode, which was as a result of air on Monday evening.
One of those interviews concerned the father-of-four showing as a visitor on Channel 10’s The Project within the night of his loss of life.
He had battled with a crippling habit to heroin which had taken maintain of his life by the point he was 15.
“I’m not proud of it at all,” he stated about his drug use. “It’s embarrassing and it’s embarrassing for my parents. But I’m thankful to have been able to come through the other side of that and I’m thankful for all the people who helped me at the right moments.”
After getting clear, he adopted a profitable profession path and joined the Channel 10 program in 2019 for the 2020 season alongside Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.
The sequence has been pulled from broadcast for this week following the news of his loss of life.
Originally revealed as Jock Zonfrillo was discovered by police at Lygon Street boutique resort, simply metres from his previous household house
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
