Tributes for JJay de Melo after drowning at Bushrangers Bay

A talented young performer has been named as the 18th person to drown in Victoria in one of the state’s deadliest summers on record. Friend Timomatic has joined tributes to the Melbourne artist described as a “shining light to all”.

A young man who drowned while swimming on the Mornington Peninsula yesterday has been remembered as a talented musician and “shining light” to all those who knew him.

JJay de Melo died on Tuesday while swimming with a friend in Bushrangers Bay, near Flinders, about 5pm.

His female companion was able to swim to shore but he was pulled from the water unresponsive about 6.30pm.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Mr de Melo, but he could not be saved.

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JJay de Melo was a talented musician.

He was arts director of multicultural organisation Youth Activating Youth.

Jay de Melo drowned at Bushrangers Bay on the Mornington Peninsula. File image: Parks Victoria

Close friend Ahmed Hassan, who worked with Mr De Melo at multicultural organisation Youth Activating Youth said he spoke to him just last week and was struggling to make sense of the tragedy.

“I still can’t believe it, it’s just such a loss,” he said.

Mr Hassan said he and de Melo were school friends before briefly going their separate ways.

“Not long ago he reached out and said he wanted to help (the charity),” Mr Hassan said.

Mr de Melo worked at the organisation helping disadvantaged youth during the week and on weekends would play gigs at clubs and festivals around Australia.

“He was a remarkable guy,”

“Wherever he went he left his mark,” Mr Hassan said.

JJay de Melo has been remembered as a “shining light”.

He said it was a sad day not only for Mr de Melo’s friends and family but for the whole community as well.

“He touched so many lives, he was a really special person.”

Friends also flooded social media with heartfelt tributes to the popular Melbourne musician and dancer.

“You always had a smile on your face, full of life, so many memories,” one friend wrote.

“You achieved so much JJay and gave back so much more,” another wrote.

“Will miss the infectious smile and voice every week my brother.”

Well known singer and songwriter, Tim Omaji, aka Timomatic, also paid tribute to Mr de Melo saying: “Terrible news. We’ve lost a shining light today.”

“Rest in the heavens my lil bro,” Mr Omaji wrote on Instagram.

Tim Omaji, known as Timomatic, paid tribute to his “lil bro”. Picture: Hafiy

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The young artist was a member of the indigenous hip hop dancer program and performed at clubs around Melbourne.

He was also listed as arts director of multicultural organisation Youth Activating Youth.

A recent Facebook photo shows him smiling and holding a cheque for $50,000 donated to the charity.

“Shoutout to the Minister of Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott for allowing us to do more in the community”, Mr de Melo wrote.

Mr de Melo is the 18th person to die in Victorian waters since December in one of the deadliest summers on record.

On Monday, a man drowned while swimming at Brighton beach in Melbourne’s bayside.

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