Maggie Beer says her 'life is changed forever' following death of beloved daughter Saskia

Australian cook and TV personality Maggie Beer has opened up about the incomprehensible loss of her daughter Saskia Beer, who died in her sleep in February this year. She was just 46.

In a new interview with the Australian Women's Weekly, Maggie said Saskia's death came as a "total shock" and the 75-year-old is still understandably coming to terms with life without her beloved daughter.

"I don't know that you do cope. You find things to do, to engage you. I don't know that anyone really copes," she told the publication.

"Your life is changed forever and this year has been the worst of my life. But you have to turn your trauma into new things."

She does, however, take comfort in knowing that Saskia — a food producer and cook who she shared with husband Colin Beer — died in her sleep. 

"All we know is that it was peaceful," the grieving mum said.

Maggie first shared the sad news about Saskia's death on Instagram back in February.

"It is with broken hearts we need to let you all know that our beautiful, extraordinary daughter Saskia died unexpectedly yet peacefully in her sleep on Friday night," she wrote at the time.

"We ask for time/space as we grapple to come to terms with our loss and appreciate all the support we have been given. Maggie, Colin and family."

Saskia is survived by her parents and her own children Max, 23, Lilly, 21, and Rory, 17. Her husband, Petar Jercic, who she married in April 2019, also shared his grief on Instagram. 

"Our beautiful, extraordinary daughter, sister, wife and mother died unexpectedly yet peacefully in her sleep on Friday night," he wrote. "The business Saskia grew and loved will continue on with me, her loving husband.

"We ask for time/space as we grapple to come to terms with our loss and appreciate all the support we have been given."