A TV chef has died of a suspected heart attack on her 46th birthday after posting a poignant final message.
Sandra Díaz del Valle, known for her warm on-screen presence and passion for sharing recipes, passed away yesterday, 10 June.
Hours earlier, her husband, TV presenter and former deputy Juan Fernando Lobo, posted a heartfelt birthday tribute on Instagram calling her “the queen of my heart”.
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She replied with what became her final public words: “Thank you love, I love you so much more, amen, God willing.”
The day before, she had shared a moving message on her own Instagram: “Thank you for accompanying me on this beautiful path full of flavours, stories and much love.”
The Honduran TV chef fell ill and was taken to a private clinic in the capital Tegucigalpa during the afternoon.
After receiving treatment, she collapsed and was transferred by ambulance to the Hospital Escuela where she arrived without vital signs.
Preliminary accounts point to a myocardial infarction, though forensic experts have stated that an autopsy will establish the precise cause.
TV Azteca Honduras, where she appeared on the morning show Venga la Alegría, confirmed her sudden death with “profound sorrow” and called for privacy for her family.
Canal 11, where she had worked for six years on Hoy Es Tu Día until leaving at the end of April, also paid tribute to its former collaborator.
She had recently joined Televisión Nacional de Honduras, as reported by Need To Know.
Born in Tegucigalpa, Sandra originally studied marketing before pursuing her true vocation in gastronomy.
She trained at the prestigious Instituto Mausi Sebess in Argentina and built a successful career turning cooking into an accessible, enjoyable experience for viewers.
A mother of two, she was remembered by relatives as “very jovial” from the day she was born.
Her mother and a sister were in Miami at the time of her death and rushed back to Honduras.
The authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy to establish the exact cause of her sudden death.
