Matt Dee: Trent Maxwell, NRL player Josh Dugan pay tribute to former Bondi Rescue star after sudden death

Former Bondi Rescue lifeguard Matt Dee is being remembered as “one of a kind” as tributes flow from high-profile Aussies following his sudden death.

His tragic death was announced on social media on Wednesday, with friends and family flocking to the comments to pay tribute.

The TV star’s former colleague Trent Maxwell, also known as lifeguard Maxi, wrote, “Rest easy brother”.

The Bondi Lifeguards’ page commented, “Sad news” with a broken heart emoji, while former NRL player Josh Dugan wrote, “Rest in paradise brother... one of a kind”.

On his Instagram stories, Ryan Clark — known as lifeguard Whippet — paid tribute to his former colleague, who appeared on Bondi Rescue between 2008 and 2017.

The lifeguard was an ambassador for Suicide Prevention Australia and founded FTW Revolution, a clothing brand which focused on mental health and suicide prevention.

Dee’s two siblings Rachel, 30, and Jonathon, 34, died in the same year; both lived with mental illness.

‘’What happened was not their fault,’‘ he told the Sydney Morning Herald in 2011.

‘’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?’‘