Australian Survivor's Lee Carseldine Leaves Show After Heartbreaking Family Tragedy

Last night, Australian Survivor’s season one runner-up and current All-Star contestant, Lee Carseldine, departed the competition after receiving some devastating news back home. 

Despite being treated for a spider bite infection, Lee came back fighting, but wasn’t expecting a call from home that would tear him – and his fellow campmates – apart.

The fan favourite departed the show after his mother Elizabeth unexpectedly suffered a stroke. Shortly after the phone call, she passed away.

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These images will stay with me for the rest of my life. A time of absolute despair and devastation after hearing about the sudden passing of my Mother from a major stroke whilst 33 days into playing @survivorau . The reason I was on the show was to hopefully win the title and the prize money as they had come under difficult financial strain due to both suffering seriously health issues. This was my way to hopefully support them. To the 9 KaloKalo tribe mates in this picture that showed me the most rawest compassion…thankyou. 🙏🏼 To the rest of the @survivorau players..thankyou for being part of such a privileged and an amazing journey. 🙏🏼 To the crew, camos, audio techs, challenge team, producers and everyone who worked tirelessly around the clock to make this show what it is…thankyou 🙏🏼. To my amazing followers who I love dearly…thankyou 🙏🏼. I hope I have provided you with lots of fun, laughter and entertainment through playing the game in a way that I only know how. Although I haven’t been able to reply to everyone’s messages, I definitely read them and every message means the world to me. 🙏🏼 And finally to @whitbyswhippys and EP Amelia (Mills), I want to thankyou from the bottom of my heart by showing the respect of making an episode under extremely difficult conditions by honoured my Mother in the best way possible. 🙏🏼 Although my grieving process is in full swing the show must go on and Mum and I will enjoy watching the remaining few weeks of this special show that has given me so much. As the great @jonathanlapaglia says…”Survivors ready?”. 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼. . . #survivor #surviorallstars #allstars #survivorau #survivoraustralia #survivor2020 #loveyoumum #towelchallenge

A post shared by LEE CARSELDINE (@leecarseldine) on Mar 9, 2020 at 3:18am PDT

Back in September, Lee broke the sad news and shared a series of photos of himself and his mother on Instagram.

“I have been oversees working on a project and my mother unexpectedly suffered a massive stroke and passed suddenly while I was away,” Lee wrote.

“I am returning home immediately and will be taking time away from everything to make sure my family is ok.

“I have lost the most amazing human in my life. A pillar of love, support, integrity, empathic and nurturing soul that has been right by side throughout every triumph and disaster in my life.

“It is because of her that everyday I strive to be a better human. I was astounded by the amount of daily unconditional love and support she offered anyone that crossed her path even if meant it was to the detriment of her own health.

“She was instrumental in putting me on a spiritual path of knowledge, acceptance, love and devotion to the big guy upstairs,” he added.

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Hi everyone. I’ve decided to give an update of the last 6 weeks. I have been oversees working on a project and my mother unexpectedly suffered a massive stroke and passed suddenly while I was away. I am returning home immediately and will be taking time away from everything to make sure my family is ok. I have lost the most amazing human in my life. A pillar of love, support, integrity, empathic and nurturing soul that has been right by side throughout every triumph and disaster in my life. It is because of her that everyday I strive to be a better human. I was astounded by the amount of daily unconditional love and support she offered anyone that crossed her path even if meant it was to the detriment of her own health. She was instrumental in putting me on a spiritual path of knowledge, acceptance, love and devotion to the big guy upstairs. Earlier this year mum was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, it was quite aggressive and it was a daily fight with her pain but she never gave up because she wanted to watch her 4 grandsons grow up. She chose to not let MND take control of her body completely and continued to enjoy daily life. In the end it was a stroke not MND that took her life. Knowing Mum is at peace with her own Mum right now is the only comfort I can take at the moment of loss. The impact she had on her four grandsons in their short lives will be reverberated throughout future generations and she can watch proud the fine young men they will grow up to be. RIP Elizabeth “Beppie” May Carseldine. I don’t know how to move forward but I will continue to commit to your legacy for you. Thankyou already to everyone for your love & support, especially our incredible close knit family. My future silence is only one of trying to comprehend what has just happened.🙏🏼✝️❤️ – Lee, Jake, Sam, Rach, Beau, Eli, Stu.

A post shared by LEE CARSELDINE (@leecarseldine) on Sep 28, 2019 at 2:06pm PDT

Lee then went on to explain that Elizabeth was also diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), but despite that, she always remained positive.

“She chose to not let MND take control of her body completely and continued to enjoy daily life. In the end it was a stroke not MND that took her life,” he wrote.

“The impact she had on her four grandsons in their short lives will be reverberated throughout future generations and she can watch proud the fine young men they will grow up to be.”

Rest in Peace, Elizabeth.