Melbourne chef Chris Donnellan dies after off-road trail bike competition in Vietnam

Heartbreaking new details have emerged of a how beloved Melbourne chef died in Vietnam.

Melbourne Chef Chris Donnellan and his wife Diem. Picture: Facebook

New details have emerged of a how beloved Melbourne chef died in Vietnam.

Former Gingerboy head chef Chris Donnellan, 39, was found unresponsive after competing in a trail bike competition, near Phan Rang, on Sunday.

His sister Lauren Donnellan told the Herald Sun Chris had had a fall prior to the race and retired.

She said her brother was heading out of the race, but never returned, only to be found later by authorities resting peacefully on a rock with his helmet and phone by his side.

The Ho Chi Minh City based chef, who was expecting his first child with wife Diem in September, had days ago reached a major career milestone.

His woodfire grill restaurant Stoker had been selected for the first edition of Vietnam’s Michelin Guide.

Donnellan worked for a number of popular Melbourne restaurants, including Ezard and Gingerboy.

Earlier this week Melbourne chefs paid tribute to the chef known for his sense of adventure, immense talent and ‘laser sharp focus’ in the kitchen.

Gingerboy chef-owner Teage Ezard said the death had sent shockwaves through food circles.

“I’m sad, shocked … he was very, very good at what it he did and he loved his job,” he said.

Ezard gave the Mornington boy his first city job at his Flinders Lane namesake restaurant in the 2000s.

Teage Ezard and his Chris Donnellan in 2009.

“He ended up working with me for 10 years,” he said.

“He had a great work ethic and a very good, mature head on his shoulders. He was a bit more advanced for his age, and he wanted to learn.”

After proving his keep, Ezard installed Donnellan at the helm of his mod-Asian restaurant, Gingerboy.

Together they wrote the Gingerboy cookbook, and remained firm friends long-after Donnellan chased his restaurant dreams to Vietnam.

Ezard caught up with his protégé for the final time last month when he was in Melbourne.

Chef Jerry Mai, who worked as his sous chef at Gingerboy, said Donnellan was her ‘brother from another mother’, and not only shaped her career but everyone he worked with.

“He paved the way for most of us doing Asian food in Melbourne and Australia,” Mai said.

“He was an amazing person with an incredible palate, creative and had a laser-sharp focus. His attention to detail with flavours was next level. He did so much and always pushed the envelope so far.”

Melbourne Chef Chris Donnellan died in a fatal bike accident on June 18. Picture: Instagram

Mai’s final exchange with Donnellan was last week after learning Stoker had been selected for Vietnam’s Michelin Guide.

“We were talking all the time, and last week I text him about his Michelin (Guide mention). I had’t had the chance to call him … I love him and miss him.”

Chin Chin executive chef Benjamin Cooper also worked with Donnellan at Ezard and respected his family values.

“The best chefs are always family oriented and have good family values and he had phenomenal family values,” Cooper said.

“His family are great. I spent many times hanging out with them and can imagine how heartbroken they would be.”

Cooper first met Donnellan as a young chef during his time at Teague Ezard’s Ezard.

“I will never forget his attention to detail. He also very quickly got his head around what it meant to take on board criticism and knew that it was never personal and always about improving the quality of what we delivered.”

Tim Squires, who worked under Mr Donnellan at Gingerboy, shared a heartfelt tribute to his friend and mentor.

“Rest in Peace Chris Donnellan,” he wrote.

“My Head Chef, mentor and friend.

“I started work with Chris at Gingerboy Restaurant Melbourne and he taught me it’s not so much about the skills you possess as it is the attitude, energy and effort you put into both work and life, and that everything you do, do it with a sense of style.

“Everyone who knows Chris knows he did everything 100 per cent.

“Chris left his mark on life and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

“Chris was an adrenaline junky who liked a rush both in and outside of work.

Donnellan suffered injuries while trail biking with friends and later died. Picture: Instagram

Donnellan posted that ‘riding the coastal road from Phan Rang to Mui Ne is amazing’. Picture: Instagram

“As a Chef you get a high during service due to busy, high energy nature of the business.

“Outside of work he enjoyed fast Cars, Snowboarding, Sailing, Skateboarding and his passion “Dirt Bike riding- which ultimately cost him his life. He died doing what he loved.

“Many of us knew that this might happen one day and he lived pretty close to the edge.

“He was very excited and optimistic for the future with his newlywed Wife and child on the way.

“He very much looked forward to becoming a Father

“Chris had a passion for life and lived life to the fullest.

“He also enjoyed travelling the world.

“Chris had a large family in Australia that he loved very much, a very close family.

“He was a mentor as a Chef who was able to pass on his skills, knowledge and positive attitude to young Chefs across Melbourne, Singapore, and a generation of young Chefs in Ho Chi Minh City.”

Following his time in Melbourne, Mr Donnellan moved to Ho Chi Minh City, where he had worked in the operation of a number of other bars and restaurants.

A social media post by a friend described him as a “much loved part of the Saigon community.

Donnellan and his wife were expecting their a baby later this year. Picture: Facebook

The news comes after Mr Donnellan revealed in a social media post in May that he and his wife were expecting a child later this year.

“Excited to announce, we are expecting a baby in September, just past halfway at 22 weeks,” the post read.

“We have really been looking forward to this for a long time.

“My wife is glowing & looking amazing, she’s doing very well and starting to show she is pregnant now.

“Exciting times ahead.”