Accident victim Dylan Hayes remembered as young larrikin, protector and dad

A young dad who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle crash at the weekend is being remembered with love by his family.

Dylan Hayes was killed in a motorcycle crash on Saturday. Picture Supplied

Dylan Hayes is being remembered as a larrikin, protector of his five younger brothers and sisters and doting dad to his young daughter.

Mr Hayes, 23, of Risdon Vale died tragically in a head-on motorcycle crash on Tasmania’s East Coast on Saturday morning.

His parents Tam and Johnny say they are in shock as they struggle to face life without their beloved son.

“Dylan was a protector,” Mrs Hayes said.

“He was the larrikin. He was just the life of the party and would do anything for anyone.

“I’m still in shock. It just doesn’t feel real.

“I just can’t even wrap my head around it, it is like I almost don’t want to believe it.”

Dylan Hayes. Picture: Supplied

Dylan Hayes with his dad Johnny. Picture: Supplied

Dylan went to Lindisfarne North Primary, Rose Bay High and Rosny College before he left school to take up a trade.

He was a popular and respected spray painter, working at Eastern Panel and Paint at Mornington, alongside his dad who is a panel beater.

Mr Hayes said Dylan was always “hyperactive” and loved cars and motorbikes.

“He was a true boy, he loved all that.”

Dylan Hayes with his dad Johnny, mum Tam, and siblings Kiarna, Blake, Jade, Ned and the new arrival of his brother Leo. Picture: Supplied

Dylan Hayes.

The eldest of six children, he was idolised by his three brothers and two sisters with the youngest sibling just three-years-old.

“They looked up to him so much,” Mrs Hayes said.

“There’s 20 years difference between them and he was always there for them.”

Mrs Hayes said Dylan also was an “amazing father” to his one-year-old daughter.

“When he became a dad I was like ‘are you ready for this’ and oh my god, he was more than ready,” she said.

“I was shocked, he was amazing, a brilliant dad and so doting.

“She idolized him too.”

Dylan Hayes with his sister Kiarna. Picture: Supplied

Dylan’s sister Kiarna paid tribute to Dylan on social media.

“I wish I could wake up from this nightmare, I need you Dyl!” she wrote.

“I need my big brother, I can’t do this without you.

“I keep going to ring you because you’re my person I go to when things are hard, I want you to come home!”

Mrs Hayes said she would miss everything about Dylan – “even his shitty attitude sometimes”.

“Now I don’t have it, I’m going to miss every little part of him,” she said.

The Hayes family’s grief comes on top of the death of Johnny’s father, Mick, just five weeks ago.

For a time Dylan lived with Mick who died from cancer aged 74.