Married At First Sight star Lachlan Rofe enjoyed a quiet life away from the spotlight in the years before his death.

Rofe – who first appeared on the debut season of the Channel Nine dating show in 2015 before starring on Farmer Wants A Wife in 2016 – died suddenly aged 47, leaving friends and family in shock.

He was a cattle farmer who lived on a property in Cawdor, near Camden in New South Wales.

Rofe looked very different from his days on TV, spending his final years living on a farm and often sharing updates to his social media account.

In July, he posted a bizarre video to Facebook, which showed him feeding emus on his porch.

The reality star looked unrecognisable as he donned long hair and held a box of KFC to the camera before giving the birds chicken pieces.

Married At First Sight star Lachlan Rofe (pictured) enjoyed a quiet life away from the spotlight in the years before his death

Rofe regularly shared updates with his followers on social media and posted a bizarre video to Facebook in July, which showed him feeding emus on his porch

Days later, he shared a memory to his page from 2019 which celebrated him testing negative to illicit drugs.

‘You don’t get into shape without a good training regime and good nutrition. Been drug tested several times and all tests were negative to any steroids or illicit drugs… Ready to go!’ it read.

Back in February, Rofe also posted a photo of himself with a black eye and said he had ‘no idea how it happened’.

‘I didn’t feel anything.. Just woke up with it,’ he wrote.

Loved ones confirmed Rofe’s death on social media this week, with tributes flooding in for the cattle farmer.

A police statement said: ‘Emergency services were called to a home in Razorback, where they found a man unresponsive.

‘Ambulance paramedics commenced CPR but they were unable to revive him.

‘Investigations are continuing into the circumstances and anyone with any information is urged to contact Camden Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.’

Days later, he shared a memory to his page from 2019 which celebrated him testing negative to illicit drugs

Back in February, Rofe also posted a photo of himself with a black eye and said he had ‘no idea how it happened’

Following the news of his death, tributes flooded social media.

‘Wow that’s tragic. I was born in Camden, very sad to lose a local so young RIP,’ wrote MAFS groom Ryan Donnelly.

Another added: ‘Love to the Macleer family, Lachlan loved that farm more than life itself. I’m saddened to hear this news.’

‘Deepest condolences to his family and friends. RIP,’ wrote another, while a different follower said simply: ‘Geeze that’s terribly sad RIP young fella.’

Others remembered him as a local identity, with one message reading: ‘That is tragic, so young.’

Rofe, who also used the surname McAleer, was no stranger to headlines during and after his reality TV stint.

In 2017, he was found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend Casey Williams in front of her two-year-old daughter following a night of heavy drinking.

He was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond but later appealed the conviction.

Rofe – who first appeared on the debut season of Channel Nine dating show in 2015, before appearing on Farmer Wants A Wife in 2016, died suddenly aged 47, leaving friends and family in shock

A magistrate eventually overturned the guilty verdict, with Rofe declaring: ‘Being a man of principle, I chose to clear my name.’

Speaking at the time, he admitted the scandal had left him rattled.

‘I’m too scared to even go see women, ‘cos I just feel with everything that’s happened, I just feel like I’m a target,’ he told Channel 7.

Away from the courtroom, Rofe was linked to several high-profile romances, including fellow Farmer Wants A Wife contestant Belinda Reid and pig hunter Natalie Cepenuik, who sparked outrage after posting an image of herself with a dead joey. 

Lachie and Belinda seemed happy together when the show wrapped filming, but less than 24 hours after the finale aired, it emerged the couple had already gone their separate ways. 

Lachlan cited long distance as the reason for their split and told TV Week: ‘We were trying back and forth and spoke on the phone all the time, but the distance makes it really hard.’ 

He also attracted attention in 2016 when his family’s property was investigated for alleged illegal tree clearing, which he denied.

‘Everything has been cleared in line with legislation; people are just jealous of me because I’ve got fame,’ he said at the time.