Bondi Rescue lifeguard Matt Dee was honoured with a paddle-out at Bronte Beach in Sydney on Saturday, following his sudden death at the age of 47 earlier this month.
Dee featured on the long-running Australian reality series Bondi Rescue from 2008 until 2017, becoming one of its most recognisable faces.
A paddle-out is a surfing tradition in which mourners gather in the ocean, often forming a circle and carrying flowers, to honour someone who has died. Friends, family, fans and fellow surfers gathered along the sand at Bronte before paddling out into the waves on their boards to pay tribute to Dee.
Food, drinks and music were shared among the crowd as the celebration of Dee's life got under way at midday, with attendees swapping memories of the lifeguard throughout the day.
Dee's family announced his death last Wednesday in a statement posted on social media. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our Matt Dee," they wrote. "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 shared once finalised, and added a message for anyone struggling with grief. "If Matt's passing has brought up difficult feelings for you, please know that you don't have to face them alone. Support is available."
Tribute to a Bondi Rescue favourite
Dee spent almost a decade saving lives on Sydney's eastern beaches and became one of Bondi Rescue's most beloved cast members, winning fans with his cheeky humour, infectious personality and unmistakable Aussie charm.
His popularity was so great that Bondi Rescue later celebrated his greatest moments in a compilation titled "The Most Aussie Lifeguard EVER."
Mental health advocacy shaped by family tragedy
Away from the cameras, Dee dedicated much of his time to helping others, co-founding the non-profit organisation FTW Revolution and working to raise awareness of mental health. He was also an advocate for Suicide Prevention Australia, the country's national peak body for suicide prevention.
His advocacy was inspired by the struggles and deaths of his younger sister and older brother, who died within a year of each other. Rachel Bridger Dee died aged 30 in December 2009 following a decade-long battle with schizophrenia, a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels and perceives reality. His older brother, Jonathan, had bipolar disorder, a condition marked by extreme shifts in mood, and died several months earlier. The siblings grew up in a tight-knit family, raised by their single mother in Melbourne.
A pattern of loss among Bondi Rescue lifeguards
Dee's death is the latest in a string of tragedies to affect Bondi Rescue lifeguards over the years, ranging from deaths to assault and drug charges.
Among them was the death of lifeguard Terry "T-Mac" McDermott, who died aged 63 on September 1, 2022, following a battle with cancer. His passing was announced in a post on the Facebook page Bondi Rescue Lifeguards, which described him as one of "the nicest watermen to don a jersey."
"This selfless man saved countless lives during his career spanning more than 30 years working at many different beaches," the tribute read. "Terry, Tezzy, T-Mac, Moondoggy McDermott. Thank you for your service to the community. Rest easy great man."
McDermott spent 20 years working as a lifeguard on the Central Coast and a further 10 years patrolling Bondi Beach.
Anyone needing immediate support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
