Australian sports broadcaster Duncan McKenzie-McHarg has died at the age of 41, prompting an outpouring of grief across the sporting and media communities.
His family confirmed the news, describing his passing as a devastating shock.
McKenzie-McHarg died in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Local authorities confirmed he fell from a building in central LA, and US media have reported that the death was recorded as a suicide.
Officials from the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said he landed on a lower roof after the fall.
In the days following the news, his social media pages were flooded with tributes. Fellow broadcasters, athletes, and viewers shared memories, highlighting his warmth, humor, and passion for sport.
The presenter’s family released a statement expressing their heartbreak and paying tribute to the man they loved.
“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 statement said.
“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.”
From radio beginnings to international sports coverage
McKenzie-McHarg built a varied media career that spanned radio and television, working with outlets including Fox Sports, Channel 7, Network 10, and Stan Sport. Most recently, he featured in Stan Sport‘s tennis coverage, appearing courtside at the US Open earlier this year.
His path into broadcasting began unexpectedly through Triple M. While teaching guitar, he crossed paths with Austereo executive Jeff Allis, a chance encounter that helped launch his media career.
Armed with a journalism degree, he secured a role on Melbourne‘s Hot Breakfast radio show alongside Eddie McGuire and Luke Darcy.
After the show ended in 2020, he transitioned fully into television before pursuing opportunities overseas. A 2017 trip to the United States inspired him to relocate permanently.
“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.
McKenzie-McHarg is remembered as a gifted storyteller whose enthusiasm left a lasting mark on Australian sports media.
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