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3rd October 2024
11:04am BST
TV presenter Fiona MacDonald has announced her own death on social media.
MacDonald, 67, had been battling Motor Neurone Disease since November 2021 but refused further treatment for the condition due to the unrelenting symptoms of the disease.
Prior to her death, MacDonald had written her own announcement with her sister, Kylie, left with the responsibility of sharing it with her followers.
The post read: “Farewell my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building - Hopefully I'm looking down from a cloud.
“Last night brought an end to a very tough few months. Was very peaceful, the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye. While I've never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief.
“The last few months have been tough. Unable to swallow normal food, the tube feeding that should have sustained me didn’t work because my gut couldn’t tolerate any of the multiple brands of protein drinks. It went straight in and straight out.”
MacDonald said that ‘black humour’ had helped her in the first few years after her diagnosis but that in recent months, she had ‘turned to despair’.
She said: “I made the decision after much soul searching to cease all medical supports and finally go into hospital for end-of-life palliative care.
“When you love life as much as I do, it takes a great deal of courage to make choices that lead to farewell. So let's not call it goodbye as I hope to see you again on the other side. Until then: 'May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly upon your fields until we meet again, and may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.'”
The message was accompanied by a couple of photos, one of her smiling alongside her two sons – Harry and Rafe – as well as their family dog.
Another image saw her with sister Kylie as the pair posed for a picture in front of a sunset.
The Australian-born presenter was known for shows such as ‘It’s A Knockout’ and ‘Wombat’ where she appeared on screen as the puppetry successor Agro's Cartoon Connection in the 1980s.
In the 2000’s she had stepped away from her TV career to focus on her own wine business.
Fans paid tribute to the late star with one writing: “Thanks for everything, Fiona Mac. A huge part of my 80s childhood.”
A second said: “Farewell and thank you the wonderful and funny Fiona MacDonald. We will all miss you. Rest in Peace.”