Jarrod Lyle, Australian golfer, dies from cancer aged 36
The Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has died, aged 36, after a recurrence of acute myeloid leukaemia.
Lyle announced this week that he had ceased active treatment for his illness and had begun palliative care.He died on Wednesday night among his family and close friends in the Victorian town of Torquay.
His wife, Briony, said in a statement: “It breaks my heart to tell everyone that Jarrod is no longer with us.”
Lyle had been fighting cancer for a third time since its recurrence last year. But as his condition deteriorated in
hospital, his wife revealed on Wednesday last week the heartbreaking decision to end his treatment.
Tributes from the world of golf flowed for Lyle, who was described as “a joy to be around” and an “inspiration to many”.
“The world lost a good man,” wrote South African former world No 1 Ernie Els.
“A class act to the very end,” Bill Shorten, leader of the Australian Labor Party, wrote.
Lyle is survived by Briony and daughters Lusi, 6, and Jemma, 2.
“Lusi, Jemma and I are filled with grief and now must confront our lives without the greatest husband and father we could ever have wished for,” Briony said.
“At the same time, we have been blessed and overwhelmed with the messages and actions of support from around the world and feel comforted that Jarrod was able to happily impact so many people throughout his life. Our humble thanks to you all.
“Jarrod was able to take in many of the unbelievably kind and generous acts and words in his final few days and was overwhelmed by the emotional outpouring.
“He asked that I provide a simple message: ‘Thanks for your support, it meant the world. My time was short, but if I’ve helped people think and act on behalf of those families who suffer through cancer, hopefully it wasn’t wasted.’”
A public memorial service will be held in Torquay at a date to be announced later.
Lyle won two professional tournaments during his career – the Mexican Open and the Knoxville Open, both in 2008.
The leukaemia he first suffered as a 17-year-old recurred in 2012, putting a stop to his golf career before he made a remarkable return to the game in 2013.