Sydney stylist and socialite Jo Ferguson has died at the age of 46.
According to a report by The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, the Australian media personality passed away following a long illness.
The one-time best friend of supermodel Kristy Hinze died in the early hours of Wednesday morning from suspected liver and kidney failure.
Tragic passing: Sydney stylist and socialite Jo Ferguson (pictured in December, 2010) has died at the age of 46 after battling a long illness
Her family paid an emotional tribute to her, with her brother Scott Ferguson telling the publication the family was devastated.
‘Sadly my inspirational sister Jo passed away defiantly last night, just after midnight,’ he said.
‘I’d hate for her life to simply slip past now as there were deeper issues that should be addressed, if only to help people in similar situations and prevent others from premature death.’
Declining health: According to The Daily Telegraph, Jo (pictured with Miranda Kerr in September, 2007) died in the early hours of Wednesday morning from liver and kidney failure
Understandably devastated: Her family paid an emotional tribute to her, with her brother Scott telling the publication the family was devastated: ‘Sadly my inspirational sister Jo passed away defiantly last night, just after midnight,’ he said. Jo is pictured in December, 2008
Publicist Adam Worling also paid tribute to the tragic socialite, referring to her as ‘a darling of the fashion world’.
‘Though, while she was obviously in a lot of pain these past few years, I hope we all remember how she used to light up a room with that smile. Someone who left us way too early,’ he added.
In January, it was reported Jo was suffering blood poisoning after a 2016 accident in which she fell down 27 stairs and lost four litres of blood.
The Daily Telegraph reported at the time that Jo shared a selfie from her hospital bed to Instagram, to let clients know of her whereabouts.
‘I slipped and fell down 27 stairs at my apartment at 8.20am on a Sunday and ended up knocking myself out immediately, gashing my temple on the stairs and losing four litres of blood.
‘I’d been unconscious for five hours when a friend found me and called the ambulance. I ended up needing three blood transfusions and 38 stitches to the head. I was told I was 20 minutes from death due to the blood loss.’
Last few weeks: The Daily Telegraph understands she was placed on life support last month, only to be discharged and then readmitted. Pictured in June, 2007
The Daily Telegraph understands she was placed on life support last month, only to be discharged and then readmitted.
Following discharge from hospital, Jo wrote on Facebook at the time: ‘After being placed on life support for a week ago how the body reacts is amazing.
‘Did someone say coronavirus? Wait until you are real sick to cry wolf.’
A later Facebook post of herself back in hospital was captioned: ‘Never ending… now draining with a tube.’
Jo dated Australian television star Tom Williams for a number of years before he married fashion designer Rachel Gilbert.
She was also linked to millionaire car dealer Neville Crichton.
She mixed with Sydney’s fashion elite and was a bridesmaid to Australian model Kristy Hinze’s wedding to American tech billionaire Jim Clark in 2009.
Sydney social scene: Jo, who dated Australian television star Tom Williams for a number of years, moved back to Adelaide to be with her family. Pictured in April, 2008 from L to R: Jo, David Gyngell, Tom and Kylie Spear
Famous friends: Jo is pictured with model Kristy Hinze in December 2008. Jo was bridesmaid at Kristy’s wedding to American tech billionaire Jim Clark in 2009
Social scene: Jo is pictured with INXS guitarist Kirk Pengilly in November, 2007
Annie Bloom, a friend of Jo for 30 years, told news.com.au on Wednesday that she is devastated.
‘I’m actually in the bath right now with candles and lighting sage to remember the good times with her, drink in hand,’ she said.
‘We had known each other for 30 years and we have stayed in contact a lot in the last few years.
‘Despite all the drama, she had a heart of gold. She was a broken soul with lots of health issues and I really hope she finally can be at peace.’
In recent years, Jo had moved back to Adelaide to be closer to her family.
She is survived by her mother Patricia and brother Scott Ferguson.
‘She was a broken soul with a lot of health issues’: Annie Bloom, a friend of Jo for 30 years, told news.com.au on Wednesday that she is devastated: Pictured in November, 2007