Beloved Married At First Sight personality Mel Schilling has died aged 54 following an extended battle with cancer.
The popular dating coach, psychologist and TV presenter was first diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, with a tumour successfully removed and a positive prognosis given.
Learning the cancer had spread to her lungs in February 2024, Schilling underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy and was later told she was eligible for a groundbreaking clinical trial due to commence this month.
However, on March 13, Schilling revealed the illness had returned over Christmas. The cancer had made its way into her brain, and following further radiotherapy sessions, was told there were no options left to explore.
On Tuesday evening, her husband Gareth Brisbane confirmed she had passed in a candid social media post sent from her account. The couple share daughter Maddie.
“Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love,” the post began.
“In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life. It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.”
Gareth reflected on his wife’s ability to launch into a new career while entering motherhood later in life than most.
“This is a woman who became a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both,” he continued.
“This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming.