Body found during search for Queensland restaurateur John Kilroy

A body found during the search for John Kilroy is believed to be that of the famed Queensland restaurateur.

The 73-year-old was staying with friends in Brisbane while he underwent cancer treatment.

His friends said Mr Kilroy went for a walk along the Brisbane River on Sunday night but never returned, The Courier Mail reported.

“We are worried about him,” a friend told the newspaper.

“He was in great pain and went for a walk and we haven’t seen him since.

“Police have been notified.”

Police confirmed they found a body at a carpark on Howard St in Brisbane City on Monday morning.

Formal identification is ongoing.

“His death is being treated as non-suspicious,” a spokesman said.

Mr Kilroy has been battling cancer for the past five years.

Tributes flooded social media, as dozens shared their fond memories of the famed restaurateur.

Mr Kilroy was originally from Western Queensland and operated pubs, restaurants and function venues for more than four decades.

He retired from the industry when he sold his iconic Brisbane steakhouse Cha Cha Char in 2020 and relocated to Hervey Bay.

The restaurant was well known for its steak and hosted politicians, miners and executives.

“I worked at both Jellyfish and Char in Darwin. I stayed at John’s wild apartment in Darwin when I first went up there. He was a true icon, and a real adventurer. I have only good memories of him,” Rebecca Brogan wrote.

Hayden Purvis said Mr Kilroy was “a true Titan of the hospitality industry, a wonderful host and generous to a fault”.

Another commenter, Tracey, shared that “the world has lost one of its best”.