John Aiken reveals the HEARTBREAKING final words Mel Schilling said to him before her tragic death at 54

MAFS expert John Aiken has shared the touching, tear-jerking final words he exchanged with fellow co-host Mel Schilling before her death from colon cancer

Married At First Sight expert John Aiken has revealed the heartbreaking final conversation he had with fellow expert Mel Schilling just before she died from colon cancer.

A Current Affair on Wednesday paid tribute to Schilling, 54, following the TV sensation’s death on Tuesday.

Just two weeks earlier, she had revealed her cancer had spread to her brain.

In an Instagram post, Schilling’s husband Gareth confirmed the tragic news, paying tribute to his soulmate the mother of their daughter Maddie, 11.

He revealed his wife ushered him closer in her final moments – when he thought the cancer had taken away her ability to speak – and whispered a message for their daughter that he said would “sustain me for the rest of my life”.

MAFS expert Mel Schilling died on Tuesday from colon cancer. Picture: Supplied

Schilling’s husband Gareth and their daughter Maddie. Picture: Instagram/Mel Schilling
“To most of you, she was Mel Schilling — matriarch of MAFS and queen of reality TV. To Maddie and me, she was our wee Melsie: an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate.”

ACA highlighted a reel of Schilling’s most iconic and vibrant moments.

She rose to prominence through her work on the Australian and UK versions of the reality TV show.

Fellow expert John Aiken remembered how his co-host would “sing and dance” with the hair and makeup team and Facetime her child.

“We would laugh, and we’d sneak lollies,” he said.

MAFS expert John Aiken (pictured with fellow experts Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla, left) revealed the final heartbreaking conversation he had with his colleague in the time before her death. Picture: Instagram

“She lit up the room. She was larger than life, full of energy – beautiful smile, very glamorous.

“But (she) had this huge heart.

Aiken revealed when he saw Schilling for the final time last week, he was able to “look her in the eye” and tell her that he loved her and she “made a difference.”

“She understood she had touched a lot of people all around the world,” Aiken continued.

“I took her husband an Irish whisky, and we drank that. She had some memories.”

Former MAFS couple Jules Robinson and Cam Merchant described how Schilling “loved love” and adored her job and “helping people”.

Her husband Gareth paid tribute to the love of his life in a tear-jerking post on Instagram. Picture: David Caird
Journalist and commentator Shelly Horton, who was Schilling’s friend, described the love between Schilling and her husband Gareth, while saying she was also adored overseas.

Schilling was first diagnosed with cancer in 2023.

She was given the all-clear after the tumour was removed but largely kept her mental health struggles away from the public spotlight.

In February 2024, she broke the news her cancer had mestasised and was now present in her lungs.

REST IN PEACE MEL.