James Martin, 47, paid his respects after his close friend, formula Formula One driver, Jody Scheckter, confirmed his daughter, Ila, has died.
The chef uploaded a photo of Ila, 21, to his Instagram page and said she had been taken “far too soon”, as he paid tribute.
James wrote beside the shot: “Utterly devastated for my best mate and family on their loss of their amazing daughter lla Scheckter.
“A magical lady, taken far too soon having been through so much but now at peace… all love.”
Ila, the fifth of Jody’s six children, died in her sleep last Thursday following a “suspected accidental overdose”, her parents confirmed.
The daughter of the F1 champion was diagnosed with a brain tumour two years prior.
Ila’s mother, Clare, shared a statement to her Instagram account where she said they are “utterly heartbroken and totally devastated”.
Clare wrote: “Ila had been diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago totally out of the blue and subsequently underwent major brain surgery.
“In recent months, she had developed epilepsy which resulted in her having extreme anxiety and fear of seizures. She lost her battle with addiction in trying to numb the fear and feelings that overwhelmed her.”
She said Ila had “many wonderful friends” and had support from the “fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous”.
Describing what her daughter was like, Clare wrote: “Ila was a larger than life character in many ways – funny, wacky, outrageous, beautiful, smart, compassionate, empathetic, loyal and with a smile that could light up a room. But she was also full of self-doubt and anxiety.
“She saw the good in everyone else and managed to touch the hearts of so many people in ways that she never realised. Whilst she was loved by so many, she struggled to feel that love.
“But she was adored by so many and the outpourings of love to the family from friends and people whose lives she impacted has meant so much to us.”
Clare explained the whole family attended the 40th anniversary of Jody’s Formula One World Championship in Monza back in September, despite Ila being “really unwell”.
She continued: “Ila died in her sleep on Thursday night at home from a suspected accidental overdose, having made the brave decision to go into treatment the next morning.
“Ila wanted to be clean, healthy and happy and have a long and purposeful life. She had recently enrolled at the University of Westminster to study Psychology for Counselling as she wanted to be able help others with their mental health.
“Aged only 21, Ila has been taken from our lives too soon and the pain our family feel at her loss is unbearable. Ila is at peace, no longer suffering the fear of further brain surgery – awake which terrified her, seizures, chemotherapy, radiation etc.”
Clare added there will be a private family funeral and a memorial service at a later date.
Jody Scheckter made his Formula One debut at the US Grand Prix in 1972 with McLaren and retired in 1980, following his win in 1979.
Nowadays, the former sportsman spends time as a biodynamic farmer and his Laverstoke Park Farm, near Overton, Hampshire, has featured on Countryfile to make a case for organic food.
In 2015, the farm was also the setting for ITV’s Sugar Free Farm where a group of celebrities had to go sugar free for two weeks whilst working on the farm.