Friends, family, fans and fellow surfers gathered at Bronte Beach on Saturday for a paddle-out tribute to Bondi Rescue lifeguard Matt Dee, who died suddenly aged 47 earlier this month.
Those attending placed flowers along the sand before taking to the water with their surfboards to honour the former television star, who appeared on the Australian reality series from 2008 to 2017.
The gathering continued with food, drinks and music as mourners shared memories of Dee, who spent almost a decade saving lives on Sydney’s eastern beaches.
Fellow lifeguards joined the tribute, while surfers formed a large circle in the ocean. Some carried flowers in their hands or mouths as they paddled out.
Dee became one of Bondi Rescue’s best-known lifeguards, winning viewers over with his humour and outgoing personality. The programme later celebrated his most memorable moments in a compilation titled The Most Aussie Lifeguard EVER.
His family announced his death in a statement shared on social media last Wednesday.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our Matt Dee,” they said.
“Matt touched the lives of many, he also did amazing work and he will be deeply missed and forever remembered by those who knew and loved him.”
The family said funeral arrangements would be announced once finalised and added that support was available to anyone experiencing difficult feelings following Dee’s death.
Matt Dee’s mental health work
Away from the cameras, Dee worked to raise awareness of mental health after the deaths of his younger sister Rachel Bridger Dee and older brother Jonathan.
Rachel died aged 30 in December 2009 after a decade-long battle with schizophrenia. Jonathan, who had bipolar disorder, died several months earlier.
Dee co-founded the non-profit organisation FTW Revolution and served as an advocate for Suicide Prevention Australia, dedicating himself to supporting people facing mental health difficulties.
The family had grown up in Melbourne, raised by their single mother.
Dee’s death follows that of fellow Bondi lifeguard Terry “T-Mac” McDermott, who died aged 63 in September 2022 after a battle with cancer. McDermott had spent 20 years working as a lifeguard on the Central Coast and a further decade patrolling Bondi Beach.
Anyone in Australia needing immediate support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call 000.
