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Sydney stylist and socialite Jo Ferguson dies aged 46

Sydney celebrity stylist and socialite Jo Ferguson has sadly passed away at the age of 46 following a long illness.

According to Confidential, Ferguson died in the early hours of Wednesday due to liver and kidney failure.

Celebrity stylist and socialite Jo Ferguson
Celebrity stylist and socialite Jo Ferguson has sadly passed away at the age of 46. Photo: Getty

Speaking to the publication, her brother Scott Ferguson said, "Sadly my inspirational sister Jo passed away defiantly last night, just after midnight."

"I’d hate for her life to simply slip past now as there were deeper issues that should be addressed, if only to help people in similar situations and prevent others from premature death."

Publicist Adam Worling shared a tribute for Ferguson that read, "Jo Jo was such a darling of the fashion world."

“Though, while she was obviously in a lot of pain these past few years, I hope we all remember how she used to light up a room with that smile. Someone who left us way too early.”

Jo Ferguson arrives for an exclusive Bon Jovi concert at Star City on December 15, 2010
Friends described how Jo would "light up a room" with her smile. Photo: Getty

Ferguson had previously suffered blood poisoning after a 2017 accident that saw her fall down 27 stairs and lose four litres of blood. At the time she was found she was reportedly just 20 minutes from death.

The Sydney Morning Herald reveals that it wasn't until this year, after ongoing nausea, that doctors found that she had been given the wrong blood type following three blood transfusions.

"They gave me B-positive and I am A-positive," Ferguson revealed. "I had 9.1 litres poisonous blood drained from my body, I was close to death and said I had six months to live."

Confidential reports that last month she was placed on life support, however, she was able to go home before later being re-admitted.

On March 19 she wrote on Facebook, "Discharged from hospital into the real world … after being placed on life support a week ago how the body reacts is amazing."

“Did someone say coronavirus? Wait until you are really sick to cry wolf.”

On March 29 she shared a photo from hospital with the caption, "Never ending... now draining with a tube."

Friends have taken to social media to share their heartbreak over Ferguson's passing.

Steve Jackson shared on Twitter, "Vale Jo Ferguson. I had the good fortune to work alongside this live wire for a couple of years (about a decade ago). Sad news - 46 way too young an age to go out. The world will be a lot less fun without her."

Jo Ferguson and Kristy Hinze in Sydney
Jo was famously good friends with model Kristy Hinze and served as Kristy's bridesmaid in her wedding to billionaire Jim Clark. Photo: Getty

Matthew Denby, tweeted, "Extremely sad and shocked to hear of the untimely death of Jo Ferguson. We worked together and briefly shared an office years ago, and it was a lot of fun - a time I’ll always remember. RIP Jo."

According to Confidential, friends on Facebook shared tributes with one person writing, "You always made me laugh even when you have been so sick. sending love to your family."

Another friend described her as "beautiful, funny, unique and infectious".

Ferguson left Sydney in 2016 and returned to Adelaide to be closer to her family.

The stylist was famously good friends with Aussie model Kristy Hinze, serving as a bridesmaid in Hinze's wedding to billionaire Jim Clark.

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