Last ditch rehab attempt failed to save much-loved chef Justin Bull

Four months before his tragic death on Friday, Sydney chef Justin Bull checked himself into a northern beaches rehab centre in a last-ditch effort to clean-up after years of self-abuse with drugs and alcohol. Sadly he was found dead on Friday.

• Tributes flow after Packer’s former private chef found dead

Four months before his tragic death on Friday, Sydney chef Justin Bull checked himself into a northern beaches rehab centre in a last-ditch effort to clean-up after years of self-abuse with drugs and alcohol.

The well-known and well-liked foodie — who was team chef for the NSW Blues State of Origin team in 2018 following an introduction from NRL legend Andrew Johns — admitted in a social media post before Christmas that he had long been a “seagull” who couldn’t say no to drugs and alcohol, prompting his admission to South Pacific Rehabilitation Clinic at Curl Curl for treatment in September/October.

Justin Bull had checked into rehab four months before his death in an attempt to clean himself up. Picture: Tim Hunter

MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

SUNRISE HITS OUT AT FAILING TODAY OVER ‘COPYCAT’ ANTICS

MODEL: ‘STOP CLAIMING NEW ZEALANDERS AS AUSSIES’

UNITED FRONT: FAMILY DAY OUT FOR SAM AND PHOEBE BURGESS

“Even with a great life, successful business, amazing staff and solid family life, I was not happy,” posted the father-of-one to his social media followers.

“I could possibly drink a Russian under the table … if you put a drug in front of me, this seagull was all in.”

Bull was found dead at his Bronte cafe Huxton’s on Friday morning.

Sources have confirmed that his wife, Justine, called police when Bull didn’t return home on Thursday night.

Police discovered Bull at his cafe where the chef had taken his own life.

The social media post he shared just before Christmas. Picture: Instagram/@juzzybull

Following his release from rehab, Bull — a long-time personal chef to billionaire James Packer and film star Russell Crowe — posted before and after photos to social media showing how drug and alcohol abuse had altered his physical appearance.

“It’s taken some balls for me to post this but I feel I need to,” he wrote, posting two headshots of himself: one bloated, one not.

“The photo on the left is me three weeks ago to the day! Yes, just three weeks. My mind was playing games on me, my anxiety was through the roof, off the radar.

“Through doctors’ orders and talking with my amazing wife, I needed to change my behaviour and thinking. I needed time alone to work on myself.

“I went away to a ‘retreat’ with no access to my phone, computer, TV, social media, drugs or booze. Just meditation, food, water, no exercise and intense therapy.

“I’m learning every day.

“The photo on the right is three weeks to the day (after the other). I’m a lucky man. Reach out folks. It takes some Balls.”

A growing floral memorial outside his Bronte cafe Huxton where he was found dead. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

Family, friends and those who went to the cafe have been leaving touching messages following the shock death. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

During his years working for Packer, Bull was booked to work six-weeks-on-six-off for the billionaire.

He would fly to the billionaire’s Argentina compound first, and then afterwards, on to Europe, at Packer’s side — long taxing stretches as the casino boss’s private chef, friend and confidante — for which he was rewarded handsomely.

Friend and fellow chef Matt Moran, of Chiswick, Aria and Barangaroo House restaurants, yesterday expressed his shock at the 46-year-old’s death.

“I’m shocked, devastated and sad to lose one of my closest friends and another chef far too soon,” Moran posted to social media. “(Justin) you were one of the most caring and loyal people. A true friend … I loved you buddy.”

It was Bull’s hope that his frank post-rehab social media post might inspire others experiencing similar issues: “Maybe it will help someone someday.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636.