Popular Australian sport presenter Duncan McKenzie-McHarg has died at the age of 41, his family has confirmed
The freelance broadcaster died on Wednesday after falling off a building in Los Angeles, according to police.
Photos shared on McKenzie-McHarg’s Instagram page have been filled with emotional tributes from colleagues and fans, with many sharing their devastation and grief at the former star’s sudden death.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, the Australian died after falling from the top of a building and landing on a lower roof in central Los Angeles.
The popular presenter’s family released a statement on Monday afternoon.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Duncan — a deeply loved son, a devoted father to his precious boy Harrison, and a cherished brother to his three siblings,” the family said in a statement.
“His passing has come as an unimaginable shock, leaving our family heartbroken and at a loss. Duncan was truly extraordinary — a man whose positivity, care and humor touched everyone he met, and who sat at the heart of so many lives, bringing warmth, laughter and joy wherever he went. Our Darling Ducky.”
McKenzie-McHarg was a globetrotting reporter who had previously worked with Fox Sports, Channel 7, Network 10 and Stan Sport.
The roving reporter was most recently sighted on Aussie TV screens as part of Stan Sport’s tennis coverage.
He was seen courtside interviewing tennis players at the US Open in New York in August.
McKenzie-McHarg’s most recent Instagram post from August showed him behind the scenes at Flushing Meadows celebrating with US Open champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka.
Another photo showed him interviewing Aussie Alex de Minaur.
McKenzie-McHarg got his start in sports media through Triple M.
He previously told radiotoday.com.au he entered the industry by chance when teaching guitar to the children of Austereo’s former Head of Programming, Jeff Allis.
Armed with a journalism degree, he won the role as sports presenter on Triple M’s iconic Hot Breakfast radio show in Melbourne.
The show, which featured Eddie McGuire and Luke Darcy, ran for 11 years before the presenters went their separate ways in 2020.
McKenzie-McHarg has previously described McGuire as a mentor.
After three years with the Melbourne radio show, McKenzie-McHarg moved into a role with Channel 7 and then with Network 10.
After a holiday to the United States in 2017, McKenzie-McHarg began pursuing a role that would allow him to live in Los Angeles.
He described it as a dream job in an interview in 2023.
“I wake up every day in Los Angeles, and 90 percent of the time, it’s 25 degrees (Celsius) and sunny. I work a lot in shorts and thongs,” he said.
