Kerri-Anne Kennerley's husband John has passed away - 9Celebrity

Kerri-Anne Kennerley's husband, John Kennerley, has passed away. He was 78.

The legendary TV presenter shared the news on Instagram this morning with a touching post celebrating his life and challenges.

Kerri-Anne and John Kennerley at the 2017 Logies. (AAP)

"It's with a heavy heart and awful sadness that I let you know that my beautiful husband John passed away last night," she wrote.

"As you all know, John has faced some tremendous challenges over the past few years and with each he has been extraordinarily brave and determined to overcome those hurdles and live a normal life.

"I want to thank everyone at St Vincent's Hospital for the beautiful care they have provided to John in his last days.

"John passed away peacefully with his son Simon and me by his side.

"John, you were the love of my life."

The "challenges" that Kerri-Anne referred to was John's life in a wheelchair after a devastating accident in March 2016.

John slipped off a balcony verandah at a golf resort in Coffs Harbour. He landed on his head and back, fracturing his C2 and C3 vertebrae. He was left almost completely paralysed and wheelchair-bound.

Following the accident, Kerri-Anne, 65, became John's full-time carer.

"He's working really hard at rehab, at Prince of Wales hospital," Kerri-Anne told 9Honey Celebrity a few months after the accident. "He'll be there till the end of the year. He came home for an hour a couple of weeks ago with the occupational therapists who come into your home and advise you on how to make your home wheelchair and disabled friendly.

"[The progress] is very slow. But he's with us and I'm grateful for that. And the people at Prince of Wales are just fabulous."

In the years following John's fall, Kerri-Anne kept everyone updated on his progress, but admitted that it wasn't easy.

"It's daunting because everything is new," she told the site Starts at 60. "You don't know the potential problems, issues, how to do things, but after a while with experience you get into a swing and it's the new norm."

Over time, John regained movement in his right hand and was able to speak again.

Slowly but surely, John's recovery allowed him to rejoin his wife of 35 years at events (they married in 1984), including Australia Day Live in 2017 -- less than a year after his accident -- and the Logies later that year. He was as proud and supportive as ever.

And despite needing full-time care, John made sure he reminded Kerri-Anne of just how much she meant to him.

"He asked me to get something out of his wardrobe... I was rummaging through and came across a huge Chanel bag... I said: 'What's this?'" Kerri-Anne told the Sydney Morning Herald of spending her birthday by his bedside that year. "And the cheeky bugger had managed to get someone to go online, find the bag and had the people from Chanel send it to the hospital to surprise me... I said: 'You can't go spending money on things like this anymore John,' but he told me: 'I can't do much for you anymore darling, but I knew you would love the bag'... and I do!"

Kerri-Anne's post about John has received hundreds of messages of condolence from friends and fans alike.

"Sending all my love kak. I'm so sorry," wrote Sophie Monk.

"I love you KAK-O, sending you so much love and strength," commented Sarah Harris. Grant Denyer's wife Chezzi Denyer said, "Oh gosh this his heartbreaking news KA-K. Sending you so much love right now. We adore you! The Denyers xoxox."

John is also survived by his two children from a previous relationship.

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