MasterChef star Mariusz Komenda has passed away at the age of 44. As reported by The Sun, it was originally thought that he was suffering from a stroke.
His passing was confirmed by Polish language outlet Do Rzeczy. There, they shared that the Polish MasterChef contestant had battled brain cancer prior to his death.
He had opened a fundraiser in order to raise funds for his medical treatment after originally being hospitalized in January of this year. There, he opened up about his condition and how it had affected him.
"My life came to a sudden halt," he wrote. "I was admitted into hospital with a suspected stroke. I thought it was just a temporary setback, but, unfortunately, the reality turned out to be far more difficult."
His tumor was described as malignant and was in the right thalamus. "The doctors decided to operate [on the cancer] immediately," he explained. "Part of it was excised surgically, whilst the remainder was removed using radiological methods."
However, he noted at the time of the fundraiser that "other tumor sites were also detected" in his body.
The fundraiser ended up raising around $8,000.
The MasterChef star, despite not winning the show, stayed connected to the franchise. He returned repeatedly in order to help and offer advice for contestants in future seasons.
He also stayed in the catering business, having set up his own restaurant alongside his son, named "Father & Son".
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Tributes Poured in for the 'MasterChef' Star
Tributes have poured in from other MasterChef contestants.
His longtime friend and MasterChef winner Grzegorz Zawierucha wrote, "Manius... I can't manage to write anything. Goodbye, brother, see you. Prepare the most delicious dinner today, my friend."
Another contestant, Mateusz Krojenka, explained that he was heavily impacted by the news. He specifically remembered Komenda's "infectious smile".
The production team behind MasterChef also shared a heartfelt tribute, writing, "It is hard to find words that could express our grief - Mariusz, we will miss you very much."
This is a truly devastating situation. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who knew the MasterChef star as they grapple with this news.
