Tributes flow from mates of Bondi Rescue star Terry McDermott

Friends of Bondi Rescue star Terry McDermott have taken to social media to express their love for him after he lost his battle with cancer.

Tributes are flowing for a beloved reality TV star who lost his battle with cancer this month.

Bondi Rescue sar Terry McDermott was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Anzac Day in 2020.

He lost his fight with the disease on September 1, despite his last social media post saying “cancer can’t get us, we’re too happy,” during treatment.

His death was revealed by the hit TV show’s social media pages late on Friday, mourning “the loss of one of the nicest watermen to don a jersey”.

Fellow Bondi lifeguard Rodd Kerr has since posted an emotional tribute on his Instagram page, saying he’d lost a great friend.

Bondi rescue star Terry McDermott has died, with the program honouring him as “one of the nicest watermen to don a jersey”, pictured in 2007.

Rodd Kerr’s tribute to Terry McDermott. Picture: Instagram

“Shattering news to say the least. The passing of the original “Ricky Flare “aka @lifeguardterry . So sad to hear about this today. thanks @lifeguardmaxi @jessepolock we have lost a great friend, father, and to his partner Jo my thoughts are with you all,” Mr Kerr wrote.

Another friend, David Finnimore, who sat on the board of the Bronte Life Saving Club until 2020, said he will miss McDermott’s company dearly.

“RIP Tezza. Fought bloody hard through a horrible cancer battle, surrounded and supported by your amazing loved ones. Will reflect fondly on our 35 years of friendship and good times, and will miss your company dearly. Rest easy mate.”

Channel 7’s Brendan Wood also reflected on his friendship with McDermott, saying he managed to squeeze out an extra two years of life despite being told he only had six months.

“The doctor has told me that ‘I’ve only got a few months to live … maybe 6 months, max’, that’s how Terry McDermott broke the devastating news to my wife and I that he was battling cancer,” Mr Wood wrote.

David Finnimore’s tribute to the Bondi legend. Pictures: Instagram.

“Tez managed to squeeze an extra two years out of life. He was a practical guy. And his reaction to his cancer diagnosis was also practical,”

“He was a legend. And he was always happy to see us. He once invited me into the lifeguard tower at Bondi.”

He said McDermott told him to jump in the Bondi buggy and help him set up the beach for the day.

“So, there I was helping Terry on Bondi Beach! Although, I must admit he did most of the work.”

“He’s gone way too early. And, today, we’re thinking about his son Matty and ‘The Mermaid.’ Vale Terry.”

Bondi Rescue’s tribute dubbed McDermott as a “selfless man who saved countless lives during his career spanning more than 30 years”.

In his final post to Instagram, McDermott showed himself singing in the cancer ward of Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney with another patient earlier this year, joking: “Cancer can’t get us, we’re too happy”.

Brendan Wood and Terry McDermott. Pictures: Instagram.

Pictured with fellow patient Dave, a former Roosters player, and wife Jo, before McDermott’s chemo session, the trio break into a cheerful rendition of The Horses by Daryl Braithwaite.

“We’ve found a new cure ... we’re not going to go on the chemo anymore, we’re going to go on the happiness diet,” he told followers, as Dave broke into a second song.

Fans flocked to the post on Saturday, writing “rest easy you legend”, and “you were the best”.

McDermott spent 20 years working as a lifeguard on the Central Coast and 10 years patrolling the famous Bondi Beach.

In addition to several seasons on Network Ten’s hit reality show, Bondi Rescue, McDermott also starred in the spin-off series, Bondi Rescue: Bali.

Originally published as Tributes flow from mates of Bondi Rescue star Terry McDermott