He was smart, talented and, as his Mum said, had the "world at his feet".
But last Wednesday afternoon Matt Dyer tragically lost his footing, according to police, falling at the Hawkesbury Lookout while surrounded by some of his best childhood friends. He died almost immediately despite the best efforts of those mates, and the emergency services that arrived soon after, to try and revive him.
A step away from an American soccer scholarship, Matthew Graeme Dyer, 18, an ex-St Thomas Aquinas and St Columba's Catholic College student, had accepted university offers from the University of Western Sydney and Macquarie University to complete a double degree of Commerce and Law but his Mum, Moya Dyer, told the Gazette he had also accepted a scholarship to play soccer and study in the USA.
"It was time to decide his best options for his future. He loved sport and excelled at many, but his passion was definitely soccer. He loved his sister dearly and adored his father Russell. Matt loved his school and parish and in return he was loved by all he met," she said.
"He was very strong in his Catholic faith," Mrs Dyer added. "He also had a very strong sense of social justice."
The tight-knit Winmalee community was rocked by the news of the talented sporting star's death. Matt "lost his footing [and] tragically fell over the lookout ... falling 30 or 40 metres," said police.
His friends called triple-zero and ran to the bottom of the cliff, looking for him. When they found him they tried to resuscitate him. Police rescue and ambulance paramedics found the group and continued CPR but he died at the scene.
Matt, who graduated from St Columba's last year, played in Springwood United Football Club's maiden representative grand final team and was the youngest player in the club's history to play premier league at just 16. He started playing at age four, Mrs Dyer said.
His height was a definite advantage for numerous sports and he was scouted by the GWS Giants but knocked back the written invitation to trial to concentrate on his soccer career.
St Columba's College principal Paul Ryan said Matthew had "represented the school in a number of sports, but soccer was his passion".
Mr Ryan said Matthew was "a lovely young man and comes from a lovely family".
"It was a very tragic accident, we just have to provide as much support to the students and ex-students as we can."
The school provided counselling to staff, students, ex-students and the families last week and on Monday last year's Year 12 had gathered in the school library "just to be together", a school spokeswoman said.
"The kids and the staff who have worked with him over the last six years and the boys and their friends all need support," said Mr Ryan.
"Our counsellors have gone down to some of the homes of the boy's best friends.
Matt's parents said Matt had "worked closely with younger players".
"He worked at the Golden Boot Strikers Academy and was loved by his students. He delighted watching them improve and came home with little updates and reports on them after every session. I will be forever thankful that Matt got to have the experiences he had at Golden Boot. My husband had commented many times on what an ideal combination of soccer and kids make for Matt. Russell said so many times 'he just gets it, he gets the game and he gets kids'."
It was a sentiment echoed on many social media pages about his death, including the Gazette's, where Ela Moxham wrote "a devastating loss of an inspirational guy with a tonne of talent".
"Matt was an amazing coach to my daughter and will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to the Dyer family and friends," she said.
A Springwood United club spokesman said Matt had been a role model to many younger players and his sporting prowess was evident from a very young age.
He said Matt and his enthusiasm for soccer "will be missed by the Springwood United FC family and by many others in our community who loved Matt dearly".
The Dyer family has been inundated with messages of support on Facebook. With Debbie Mann posting: "Our deepest sympathy to you Moya, Russell and Isobel. We can't imagine the pain you're going through right now. Such a sad day here in the Mountains."
Mrs Dyer said "she has been overwhelmed by the level of grief and outpouring of love for Matt. The level of support and amount of love given to our family has been a true reflection of the amazing community in which we live. Our daughter adored her brother and I am so grateful to her beautiful friends and their families for their love and support".
Superintendent Darryl Jobson said police had launched an investigation into the tragedy with a report being prepared for the coroner.
Matt Dyer's funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 11 at 11am at St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Springwood.
