Tributes pour in for 'talented musician and dancer' who drowned in choppy waters at popular tourist destination as his female companion manages to swim to shore
- Tributes have poured in for a 'talented musician and dancer' who drowned
- Jay de Melo died on Tuesday while swimming at Bushrangers Bay in Melbourne
- He was swimming with a friend when the pair got into some trouble in the water
- Mr de Melo's female companion swam to safety but he was found unconscious
A young man who drowned while swimming at a popular tourist destination has been remembered as a 'talented musician and dancer'.
Jay de Melo on Tuesday drowned while swimming with a friend at Bushrangers Bay near Flinders in Melbourne at 5pm, The Herald Sun reported.
When the pair got into trouble, Mr de Melo's female companion swam to safety but he was unable to and was pulled from the water unresponsive by police at 6.30pm.
Jay de Melo (pictured right) has been remembered by those who knew him as a 'talented musician and dancer'
Me de Melo (pictured) was a member of the indigenous hip hop dancer program and performed at clubs around Melbourne,
Police said emergency services tried to resuscitate the man but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Touching tributes has flooded social media for the artist, who was a member of the indigenous hip hop dancer program and performed at clubs around Melbourne.
'Rest easy my man, so blessed to have had the opportunity to hang out with you, gonna miss the memories,' one person wrote.
'You were a shining Star Jay. Always smiling. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family,' another person said.
Share this article
A third person added: 'An angel has gone back to heaven rest easy champ.'
Singer and songwriter, Tim Omaji - aka Timomatic - also took to social media to pay tribute to Mr de Melo.
'Terrible news. We've lost a shining light today,' Mr Omaji wrote on Instagram.
'Rest in the heavens my lil bro.'
Mr de Melo was also arts director of multicultural organisational Youth Activating Youth - a non-for-profit organisation that provides support and assistance to disadvantaged multicultural Australian youths.
Mr de Melo (pictured) was arts director of multicultural organisational Youth Activating Youth
Singer and songwriter, Tim Omaji - aka Timomatic (pictured) - took to social media to pay tribute to Mr de Melo
One of Mr de Melo's closest friends, Ahmed Hassan, who worked with him at Youth Activating Youth told the publication he was struggling to make sense of the news.
'I still can't believe it, it's just such a loss,' Mr Hassan said.
He said the pair were school mates before going their separate ways, but had recently reconnected after Mr de Melo offered to help the charity.
The gifted musician and dancer would help the organisation during the week and play gigs at clubs and festivals around the country on weekends.
'He was a remarkable guy,' Mr Hassan said.
'He touched so many lives, he was a really special person.'
Mr de Melo's death has cemented this summer as one of the deadliest ever, with a total of 18 deaths in Victorian waters.
Jay de Melo on Tuesday drowned while swimming with a friend at Bushrangers Bay (pictured) near Flinders in Melbourne, about 5pm
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
