Surfers came together to pay their respects to Matt Dee, a lifeguard familiar to audiences of the television series Bondi Rescue, Nine.com.au reports. The farewell took place at Bondi, the Sydney beach where the program is set and where Dee worked.
According to Nine.com.au, those taking part gathered on the water for the tribute. The report describes Dee as a beloved figure, and the turnout reflects the place he held in the local surfing and beach community.
Bondi Rescue follows the lifeguards who patrol Bondi Beach, and its long run has made the beach and its crew widely recognised beyond Australia. Dee's connection to that world is the reason his death has drawn attention from both colleagues and viewers, Nine.com.au indicates.
The gathering was organized by surfers rather than as an official event, the outlet reports. Details beyond the farewell itself were not included in the available reporting.
Further information about Matt Dee's life and the circumstances of his death has not been released in the material available. Updates are expected from Nine.com.au and other Australian outlets as they are confirmed.
