'I was at a party and two blokes started fighting.' The story behind Ash's eye patch on My Kitchen Rules.

‘Friendly Pirate’ Ash Keillah and Stacey Allen cooked up a fittingly fishy feast in the first My Kitchen Rules instant restaurant of season 10.

But fans tuning in a little late may have missed Ash, who lives in Byron Bay with his partner, tell the story behind why he wears a distinctive eye patch.

The 34-year-old said he had worn the patch for ten years and embraced the nickname ‘Friendly Pirate’, but the circumstances surrounding how he lost his eye were “tragic”.

“The patch has definitely become part of my identity and it started from something sort of tragic,” Ash said during the premiere episode on Monday night.

 

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The seafood lover explained that he had been a bystander to a fight at a party and was injured while trying to break it up.

“Ten years ago, I was at a party and two blokes started fighting. It didn’t have anything to do with me. I was trying to stop it.

“And the guy threw a glass and tried to get someone else and got me. Ended up taking my eye out.”

Ash said doctors spent a lot of time trying to save his eye, but in the end, he chose to have it removed.

“The doctors kept giving me operations, it kept me out of the surf which was making me crazy.

“And I just said, ‘Get my eye out, I want to get back in the water’.”

Since then, Ash has taken his role as ‘the friendly pirate’ in his stride.

“It definitely changed me for the better. I wouldn’t change a thing. Can I say this? I’m happy I lost my eye,” he said.

His fiancee, Instagram model Stacey, is also a fan of the protective accessory.

“He’s wearing the patch when we get married,” she said, joking she had a “bit of a pirate fetish”.

The couple scored a solid 71 for their instant restaurant menu of tuna tartare, miso salmon and salad, and chocolate and avocado mousse.

It’s a decent start for the young couple, who are up against a brother and sister duo from WA, flight attendants from Queensland socialites from NSW among the first group of competitors.

My Kitchen Rules continues Monday to Wednesday at 7pm on Channel Seven.