Survivor contestant Keith Nale has died at the age of 62, his heartbroken son has confirmed.
Keith, who appeared on the CBS competition show twice, had been diagnosed with cancer just a few months before his death.
In a statement, his son Wes Nale said: "He passed away this afternoon. He'd been battling cancer for the past few months and we found out about it in January."
Tributes have been pouring in for Keith on Twitter, with his Survivor co-star Kelley Wentworth writing: "Keith - a man with the purest heart, who brought humor into moments where it was needed most.
"I'm grateful I had the opportunity to meet Keith & share memories together on the beaches of Nicaragua & Cambodia.
"My heart is with the entire Nale family. This is a devastating loss."
One fan wrote: "This Keith Nale news is devastating. That man was a breath of fresh air on a game that desperately needed it, may he rest in peace."
"There will never be another Survivor player like Keith Nale. RIP legend. Steve and I always quote his "stick to the plan!". Even in day to day life. Haha," another commented.
A third fan tweeted: "So devastated to hear about Keith Nale passing. I obviously only knew him through the TV but he strikes me as one of those people that’s so alive it’s near impossible to comprehend their absence. Sending love to his loved ones."
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Keith's brother, Kevin Nale, said it was "a life taken way too soon."
He added: "It happed so quickly. Cancer ate him up. He Passed this afternoon at his home in Shreveport, Louisiana."
Fans will remember Keith for appearing in two seasons of Survivor.
He first appeared in the show's 29th season, Survivor: San Juan del Sur, in which he competed alongside his son Wes.
Many viewers saw Keith as an underdog, but he went on to make the final four.
The star then returned for Survivor: Cambodia, but he was eliminated just two days before the final.
Speaking at the time about competing against younger players, Keith told UpRoxx: "They were impressed, being I was 53. Now granted that's not 93, but that's not 23 either.
"And I said, 'Man, they were impressed with some challenges.' They were all behind me, a great bunch of guys. They wanted me to win it and, you know, bring it home to Louisiana. But that just didn't happen."
* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
