It was a Monday morning in May when a visibly shaken Manu Feildel fronted TV cameras to share his shock over MasterChef star Jock Zonfrillo’s death
Dressed in a white shirt, with distress showing plainly on his face, the MKR judge told viewers he was “finding it hard to find my words right now”.
Scottish-born Zonfrillo – a dad of four – died, aged 46, on April 30 – an age, in Manu’s words, that was “far too young to go”.
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Manu had received news of the tragedy from his friend and fellow MKR judge Colin Fassnidge – with both left reeling by its suddenness.
Now, in a new interview with 7Life, Manu has revealed just how Zonfrillo’s loss impacted them both.
“It’s funny. Colin and I, we’ve had these conversations and when we’re not working together and when we spend a long time away from each other we do pick up the phone more often than we used to,” Manu explains.
“Just to make sure that when you know, you’re okay, I suppose.
“Especially men, you know men don’t communicate when something may be going wrong and friends need to be there for each other,” the star added.
While an official cause Zonfrillo’s death has not been announced, and a report will be prepared for the coroner, police came to the conclusion he had died from natural causes.
On May 1, Manu became one of the first members of the hospitality community to speak out on the tragedy.
“I just turned 50 and I’m still feeling young so I’m telling you, 46, it’s far too young to go,” he said in footage, which can be seen in the video above.
“I feel really sorry for his wife and his kids.
“I’m sending them all my love.
“I’ve got kids myself and I’m finding it hard to find my words right now.”
Manu described Zonfrillo as “a young, talented chef” who had helmed some “great restaurants” in Adelaide.
“He’s had a really successful career and suddenly it’s all stopped,” he said.
“You just wonder how and why.”
Manu said he had received calls from his and friends from the industry over the tragic news.
“Texts came up on my phone,” he said.
Fellow MKR judge Colin told 7NEWS that he spoke for the “whole hospitality industry” when he described Zonfrillo as a “leading light” in the food and entertainment world.
“The minute I heard, I rang my wife in shock,” he said.
“And straight after that, I rang Manu.
“It’s tough for everybody.
“We’ve lost a great chef, a young dad, a father.
“I’ve known Jock for 20 years … I often joked that he stole the waistcoat idea off me.”
“He was a funny guy; the last time I had a drink with Jock, I had a whisky and he had a water.
“He was a man who had his demons, but he was conquering them.”
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