What happened to Mark Pilgrim? Tributes pour in as radio DJ passes away at 53

South African broadcaster and renowned radio industry personality Mark Pilgrim passed away in Johannesburg surrounded by his loved ones on Sunday, March 5, 2023, at the age of 53.

The tragic news was confirmed by Lloyd Madurai, the Managing Director at HOT 102.7 FM in a Facebook announcement that read:

He was known for producing and anchoring his award-winning namesake show, which is broadcast every Monday to Saturday on HOT 102.7 FM.

Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in February 2022. He later revealed that it had unfortunately spread to his femur, the base of his spine, and lymph nodes and was being treated for the same.

"Your life was a light": Netizens share emotional tributes to Mark Pilgrim

Internet users took to social media to express their grief at the loss of the broadcaster. They were left shattered and devastated by his death and shared their condolences with Mark's family, especially his fiancee Adrienne. Many remarked that it was a "privilege" to know him and have him as a friend.

Throughout the 53-year-old's tryst with the disease, he regularly updated his followers about his condition, sharing details about the disease, his frustrations, and his hope for recovery. Recalling his posts, user Brett @BrettFishA stated:

Twitterati also pointed out their favorite memories of listening to the radio host. One user Derek, @HDirkH, praised the broadcaster stating:

Here are some comments seen on the micro-blogging platform expressing their loss:

Mark Pilgrim was previously diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer

The 53-year-old radio host was well respected amongst his peers and he boasted a distinguished and successful career in both the radio and television industry. Prior to working with HOT 102.7 FM, Mark worked with 5FM, KFM KFM, and HOT 91.9 FM. His work on the latter earned him two SA Radio Awards.

Mark Pilgrim soon started documenting his journey, including the time he was suffering from Covid-19, his everyday life with friends and family, and his recovery from the surgeries.

Determined to make the most of the time he had left, Mark proposed to his partner, Adrianne Watkins, who was by his side since the news was first revealed.

About the author

Nirali has been a popular culture writer at Sportskeeda for the past 1.5 years, covering celebrity/influencer trends and profile/histories, political news, crime reports, and lifestyle. She completed her Bachelor's in Architecture from University of Mumbai and Masters in Heritage Conservation from University of Southern California. Professionally, Nirali has a strong 7.5-year experience working as an architect, an Assistant Archivist and a Digital Archivist across three companies.

Nirali’s educational qualifications and unique career trajectory put great emphasis on research and writing, which along with her personal interest in popular culture, led her to the current role at Sportskeeda. Her specialties are researching histories, crime stories, and developing general knowledge pieces.

The most crucial step in Nirali’s reporting is rigorous fact-checking, and she relies on information from primary sources only for her news. In the absence of a primary source, Nirali double, and even triple-checks information from multiple sources before presenting them to her readers. Strictly anti-AI, she believes in giving credits wherever necessary.

Nirali’s favorite celebrities are Mark Ruffalo and Dolly Parton, and she admires them for their support of humanity and advocacy for what is right. An avid reader, Nirali can be found nose-deep in a new book when she is away from her keyboard. Nirali also loves to illustrate in her free time.

Know More