Former Bondi Rescue lifeguard, mental health advocate, and co-founder of the clothing and events brand FTW Revolution, Matt Dee, has died, according to a public statement released by his company. Dee appeared as a recognizable cast member on the hit Australian reality television series between 2008 and 2017.
The Bottom Line
- The News: Former Bondi Rescue star and mental health advocate Matt Dee has passed away, with his death confirmed via an online statement by his co-founded brand, FTW Revolution.
- The Background: Dee starred on the popular reality show from 2008 to 2017 and later dedicated his platform to youth suicide prevention, channeling personal family tragedies into active community outreach.
- The Legacy: Through FTW Revolution, Dee and his team raised approximately $500,000 for Suicide Prevention Australia, leaving behind a profound impact on action-sports mental health awareness.
Remembering a Bondi Staple and Cultural Force
For nearly a decade, Matt Dee was part of the familiar, sun-soaked fabric of Bondi Rescue, guarding one of Australia’s most famous stretches of sand. Beyond his television tenure, which eventually amassed a global digital footprint with millions of followers tuning into clips on YouTube, Dee carved out a vital space off-screen as a passionate advocate for mental health and suicide prevention.
The tragic news of his death was shared by FTW Revolution, the clothing and events brand he co-founded to reach young Australians struggling in silence. “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 company stated on Instagram.
Tributes immediately flooded social media platforms from former colleagues and friends within the tight-knit Australian surfing and coastal community. Former co-star Trent Maxwell shared a brief, poignant farewell online writing “rest easy brother,” while filmmaker Kid Mac posted “RIP Matty.” Childhood friend Mark Miccoli remembered their formative years together, noting on social media: “We had so much fun surfing and running a muck [sic] together growing up. You definitely lived life to the fullest, see you in the next life legend Spikas.”
Turning Personal Grief Into Public Advocacy
Dee’s commitment to mental health advocacy was deeply personal, rooted in profound family losses. In 2009, he lost both his younger sister, Rachel, who lived with schizophrenia, and his older brother, Jonathan, who lived with bipolar disorder, within a year of each other. His grandmother also died by suicide when Dee was 15 years old.
Reflecting on those losses in past interviews with Nine Newspapers, Dee spoke candidly about the heavy stigma surrounding mental illness. “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 said. Growing up in Melbourne with a single mother before relocating to Sydney, Dee channelled his grief into building a lifeline for those who might feel alienated by traditional institutional resources.
Through FTW Revolution, Dee served as an ambassador for Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA), helping raise roughly $500,000 for the peak body. Australian big wave surfer Justen “Jughead” Allport noted in a 2015 interview that Dee wanted FTW to act as an alternative bridge for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. “Matty just wanted kids that were down, that were from poor backgrounds, to connect with something that could help them,” Allport stated. “Matt’s just trying to be an alternative for the people who aren’t gonna [sic] ring Lifeline.”
| Milestone / Era | Details |
|---|---|
| Television Tenure | Appeared as a cast member on reality television series Bondi Rescue from 2008 to 2017. |
| Advocacy & Founding | Co-founded youth mental health brand FTW Revolution and served as an ambassador for Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA). |
| Fundraising Impact | Raised approximately $500,000 for Suicide Prevention Australia through clothing lines and community events. |
A Uncompromising Voice for the Underdogs
Dee’s blunt, no-nonsense communication style defined his approach to advocacy. Rather than adopting sanitized corporate messaging, he confronted Australia’s youth suicide crisis directly. “We send our war cry to the government asking why the f—k more is not being done about suicide, Australias [sic] biggest killer for people under 44,” a post on Dee’s LinkedIn profile read. “We represent the underdogs in the trenches, the battlers in the dark places.”
While his official cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, the statement released by FTW Revolution deliberately included essential crisis support contacts, reinforcing the mission that defined the latter half of his public life. As funeral arrangements are finalized, the outpouring of grief from co-stars, surfers, and community members underscores a legacy built on raw honesty, fierce loyalty, and a relentless drive to support those fighting battles in the dark.
If you or anyone you know needs support, help is available. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. International readers should reach out to their local emergency services or national mental health helplines.
