Friends, family and fellow lifeguards gathered at Bronte Beach in Sydney for a paddle-out honouring former Bondi Rescue lifeguard Matt Dee, whose ashes were scattered in the ocean.
The 47-year-old’s farewell saw surfers form a large circle in the water where Dee spent almost a decade saving lives. They later paddled back towards the shore together on a giant party wave.
The gathering continued on the beach with food, drinks and music as those who knew Dee celebrated his life.
His best friend, Kev Goodall, said the size of the crowd reflected how deeply Dee was loved.
“He always made you feel like he was everyone’s best mate,” Goodall said.
“He was a really well-loved, unique character. We just wanted to give him a good send-off that’s fit for the Pirate King.”
Tributes to Bondi Rescue lifeguard Matt Dee
News of Dee’s sudden death was shared on Instagram on September 2. Goodall said he was believed to have died from natural causes.
Dee became a familiar face on Australian television after appearing on Bondi Rescue between 2008 and 2017. A YouTube page dedicated to him has attracted more than three million followers across the globe.
The surf club remembered his “infectious personality” and his ability to bring happiness to those around him, prompting tributes from former co-stars, friends and the local community.
Beyond his television work, Dee was a mental health advocate who spoke openly about the loss of his siblings, Rachel and Jonathon, in 2009. They were aged 30 and 34 and had both lived with mental illness.
Dee also lost his grandmother to suicide when he was 15. His sister had schizophrenia and his older brother had bipolar disorder.
Speaking in 2011, Dee said: “What happened was not their fault. They did their best to manage their illnesses. It wasn’t their fault. They had a problem inside their heads.
“It’s something we don’t understand. How would we know what it’s like?”
He later co-founded the clothing and events brand FTW Revolution as a suicide prevention resource for young Australians and became an ambassador for Suicide Prevention Australia.
