‘She was a massive part of our team’: Waleed Aly leads the tributes to much-loved TV producer who suddenly died of a heart attack aged just 29
- Carla Ballomarino, 29 suddenly died in the early hours of Saturday morning
- The former The Project guest producer died after suffering a cardiac arrest
- Waleed Aly shared an emotional tribute to the 29-year-old on air on Tuesday
The Australian television community is in mourning after the shock death of a TV producer who suddenly died of a heart attack.
Carla Ballomarino, 29, from Melbourne, died in the early hours of Saturday morning after going into cardiac arrest.
The Project co-host Waleed Aly announced the news on Tuesday evening’s show during an emotional tribute to his former colleague.
Waleed said Ms Bellomarino worked at several departments on the show for a number of years.
Carla Ballomarino, 29, from Melbourne, died in the early hours of Saturday morning after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest
‘She was a massive part of our team. It’s just about impossible to summarise Carla for you,’ Waleed told the audience.
‘She was full of life, she was a go-getter. She was going to dominate the television industry, there was no doubt about that.
‘More importantly, she was hilarious, she was really funny, she was extraordinarily kind.’
Waleed remembered Ms Bellomarino as a ‘genuine pleasure’ to be around, and extended Network Ten’s sympathies to her twin sister Lucy and her parents Frank and Vita.
Colleagues have taken to social media to pay tribute to Ms Bellomarino.
‘I worked with her many years at 9 (Network) and she as you said was lively, fun and just incredible at what she did. Will be so sadly missed,’ The Block judge Shaynna Blaze wrote.
Waleed Aly remembered Ms Bellomarino as a ‘genuine pleasure’ to be around, and extended Network Ten’s sympathies to her twin sister Lucy and her parents Frank and Vita
‘So sad… Anyone who has been a part of #TheProjectTV family will always be part of #TheProjectTV family,’ another condolence read.
Other friends took the shock death as a caution to have a heart check-up.
‘Heart check-ups at any age are crucial. Doctors can pick up innocuous heart problems like leaky aortic valves that have no symptoms simply by using a stethoscope that may warrant further tests,’ one wrote.
Ms Bellomarino was a former field producer at the ABC, as well as guest producer at The Project before going on to work as a writer’s assistant at Grace: A Storytelling Company.
Colleagues of Carla Bellomarino, including The Block judge Shaynna Blaze, have taken to social media to pay tribute to the TV producer