The husband of Married at First Sight dating coach Mel Schilling has died at the age of 54, he announced on Instagram.
Mel Schilling’s death
The news comes after Schilling revealed her cancer has been transferred to her brain.
Schilling, who joined the cast of the reality TV series in 2016, said she was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023.
In a statement, her husband Gareth She said she “passed away peacefully today surrounded by love.”
“To most of you, she is Mel Schilling – the matriarch of MAFS and reality TV queen. To Maddie and I, she is our little Merci: an incredible mom, role model and soul mate,” he said.
“In her final moments, when I thought the cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she pulled me closer and whispered a message to Maddie and me that would sustain me for the rest of my life.
“This drained her of all remaining strength, a gesture that summed up our little Mercy perfectly.
“Even then, the only thing she was thinking about was Maddie and me. This woman was a new mother and a TV star at the age of 42 and had the best of both worlds.
“If you can do anything to honor Mel’s memory, enjoy life to the fullest, love your people well and don’t sweat the small stuff. I had 15 wonderful years with my soulmate and it was the honor of a lifetime to be by her side. For that, I will be forever grateful. Goodbye, my love. My love. Until we meet again.”
Schilling opens up about cancer spreading in brain
Schilling originally joined Mafs in her native Australia before taking part in the UK version of the show, which airs on E4.
In early March, she informed that her cancer had spread, affecting the left side of her brain, and there was “nothing medical professionals could do” to fix the problem.
She detailed that she had completed 16 cycles of chemotherapy while filming Mafs, and had success with radiation.
Schilling had earlier announced her intention to quit the Australian version of the show after 12 seasons as a panellist.
