Ex-Socceroo Stephen Laybutt’s body found in Cabarita bushland as man whose life he saved pays tribute

The Australian football community is mourning the death of ex-Socceroo Stephen Laybutt – but a part of him lives on, in a physio patient whose life he saved when he gave him his kidney.

Ex-Socceroo Stephen Laybutt has died. Picture: Getty Images.

The body of ex-Socceroo Stephen Laybutt has tragically been found in bushland on the NSW north coast, with the devastated Australian football community paying tribute to a “tough player with a heart of gold”.

Laybutt was originally reported missing on Saturday morning after spending Friday with friends in Casuarina in the Tweed Coast region.

The 46-year-old Elizabeth Bay man played 15 matches for the Socceroos between 2000 and 2004 and more recently worked as a physiotherapist at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Laybutt’s car was found outside a Cabarita shopfront on Saturday before police launched an extensive search, appealing to the public for help through social media and geo-targeted texts.

His body was tragically found in bushland near Cabarita at 7pm on Sunday.

Laybutt played with the Newcastle Jets in the A-League until 2008 when an achilles tendon rupture ended his career.

He also played with the Olyroos at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Laybutt in 1997, at the start of a successful career. Picture: Tony Feder/Sporting Pix

Australian football legend Robbie Slater said Laybutt’s death was a tragedy.

“He was a very good player, I played against him a few times when he was with the Brisbane Strikers – he was someone who clearly marked the sport,” Slater said.

“He was a big guy, uncompromising, he had a very good career and probably a highlight for him was his time in Belgium (where he played from 2003 to 2007).”

Following his football career, Laybutt came out as gay.

“He was an extremely courageous person, there’s not many have openly come out,” Slater said.

“It’s tragic news – it puts things into perspective.”

The Daily Telegraph spoke exclusively after Laybutt’s death with his partner at their Elizabeth Bay residence, who said “I’m his partner, it’s not appropriate to talk right now”.

Fellow ex-Socceroo Luke Wilkshire – who grew up in the Wollongong region with Laybutt – praised his former teammate as a tough player with a heart of gold.

“It is sad things like things happen,” Wilkshire, 42, said.

“He was a quiet, humble guy and he was that kind of player as well – he was a good guy, it’s very sad.”

Wilkshire said Laybutt, 46, was also a fan and player favourite.

“He was popular as a player, he got on with everyone,” he said.

“He was a tough centre back but he had a heart of gold.”

After the end of his career, Laybutt reinvented himself as a physiotherapist in the rehabilitation unit at Sydney’s St Vincent Private Hospital – where one stroke of fate changed another man’s life.

Ian Pavey received a kidney from ex-Socceroo Stephen Laybutt after knowing him for only four months. Picture: David Swift

Desperately needing a kidney transplant, patient Ian Pavey received a “random text message” in February 2021 saying “It’s Steve from St Vincent’s. I want to investigate if I could give u a kidney”.

Pavey replied: “Hi who’s this?”.

The now-69-year-old told The Daily Telegraph meeting Laybutt four months before the text was a “sliding doors” moment.

“If I didn’t have a knee transplant, then I wouldn’t have met Steve, and I wouldn’t have got a kidney,” Pavey said.

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Ian Pavey at his Alexandria home. Picture: David Swift

Pavey said Laybutt was so “laid back” about the transplant, doctors couldn’t contact him the day before and thought he might’ve had “cold feet”.

However, after a few missed phone calls, he told them he was just at the gym and he was as ready as ever.

“It was just something he wanted to do,” Pavey said.

And Laybutt’s unexplainable act of generosity meant he “suffered more” than himself and just spoke to how “great” a man he was.

“He was always caring for people,” he said.

Ian Pavey at his Alexandria home. Picture: David Swift

It’s the crux of what Pavey remembers, having only just received the news hours earlier, and still “processing” Laybutt’s death.

The pair had met just before Christmas and planned on seeing each other again once Laybutt was back from his holiday.

And while they “weren’t in each other’s pockets”, the kidney is a piece of Laybutt which Pavey will carry for the rest of his life.

Laybutt at training in 2000.

The Newcastle Jets and their supporters club both issued statements saying they were deeply saddened by Laybutt’s death.

“Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time,” the Jets said in their statement.

“Sending love to his family, friends and former teammates,” the supporters club added on Facebook.

Football NSW also sent their deepest condolences to Laybutt’s family.

“Representing the country on 15 occasions, Stephen played in the old National Soccer League with the Wollongong Wolves and Sydney Olympic as well as the Brisbane Strikers and Parramatta Power,” the organisation said in their statement.

“The former AIS graduate was known as one of the toughest defenders in the league and always played with his heart on his sleeve.”

Stephen Laybutt #6 for the Australian Olyroos in 2000. Picture: Robert Cianflone/ALLSPORT

Wollongong Wolves FC president Strebre Delovski said Laybutt was a popular and respected member of the club where he played as a junior and trainee during his youth in the Illawarra.

“He had an amazing career representing his country and during his time at the Wolves he became a role model to all the players,’’ Delovski said.

“He would put in 100 per cent and would always wear his heart on his sleeve.”

The circumstances of Laybutt’s death are not being treated as suspicious.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.