MasterChef Champion Eren Kaşıkçı Found Dead at Home: Cause of Death Under Investigation

Eren Kaşıkçı, the winner of MasterChef Türkiye 2021 and a renowned chef widely known by his nickname “Kızıl Sakal” (“Red Beard”), was found dead at his home in Kilyos, Sarıyer, Istanbul.

The sudden death of 37-year-old Kaşıkçı has caused deep sorrow across the culinary community and the MasterChef family. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into his death, while the exact cause is expected to be determined following a forensic examination.

The tragic news came from Chef Eren Kaşıkçı, who became widely known after winning the 2021 season of MasterChef Türkiye.

Kaşıkçı was found unresponsive at his home in Kilyos, in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. According to information reported by the Demirören News Agency (DHA), it was a friend who found the 37-year-old chef at his home. Paramedics who arrived at the scene confirmed that Kaşıkçı had died.

Relatives Became Concerned After Being Unable to Reach Him

According to initial reports, Kaşıkçı’s relatives became concerned after being unable to contact him for some time. Some reports stated that after Kaşıkçı’s wife was unable to reach him, she asked someone close to him to check on him.

Following the emergency call, police and medical teams were dispatched to his home in Kilyos.

After Kaşıkçı was pronounced dead, investigators conducted an examination at the scene. His body was subsequently taken to the morgue of the Council of Forensic Medicine to determine the exact cause of death.

Prosecutor’s Office Launches Investigation

Following Eren Kaşıkçı’s death, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an official investigation. At this stage, no definitive cause of death has been publicly announced.

Kaşıkçı’s business partner, Mikail Malkoçoğlu, was quoted in media reports as saying that the definitive cause would be established by the forensic examination. Malkoçoğlu said that medical teams initially considered the possibility of a heart attack.

However, this should not be regarded as the confirmed cause of death, as the official forensic report has yet to be released.

Some recent reports have also stated that medication was found at the scene. However, there has so far been no official confirmation establishing any connection between this finding and Kaşıkçı’s death. Therefore, speculation regarding the cause of death should be avoided until the official findings are announced.

Body Released to His Family

According to the latest information received on the morning of July 30, Kaşıkçı’s body was released to his family following procedures at the Council of Forensic Medicine.

The exact cause of death is expected to become clear once the autopsy and necessary laboratory examinations have been completed.

Emotional Farewell from Chef Somer

Following news of Kaşıkçı’s death, judges from MasterChef Türkiye and several of his former fellow contestants shared condolence messages on social media.

Somer Sivrioğlu posted a black-and-white photograph of himself with Eren Kaşıkçı and bid farewell with the words:

“Ah, my Eren, my dear brother... May your soul live on.”

Mehmet Yalçınkaya and Danilo Zanna were also reported to have shared messages of condolence on their social media accounts following Kaşıkçı’s death.

He Was in Tokat Just Days Before His Death

Following Kaşıkçı’s sudden death, some of his final recorded images also emerged.

Footage circulating in the media and on social media is reported to have been recorded during a visit to his hometown of Tokat just a few days before his death.