FISHING WITH FRIENDS: Matt Sykes, left, with friends, James Carney and Kevin Finlay and the results of one of their spear fishing trips.
KEVIN Finlay from Bomaderry had only known Matt Sykes for a couple of years, but during that time they became close friends.
Mr Finlay was with him when he died.
Mr Finlay worked on the security gates at Beecroft when the pair met.
He noticed Mr Sykes’ dive equipment in his car and being a keen diver himself sparked up a conversation.
“I remember he was driving out in his wetsuit, so I grabbed his number and soon after we started diving together,” Mr Finlay said.
“I knew how to catch large lobsters and he knew how to catch kingfish so we taught each other.
“We became great mates and ended up buying a boat together.
“Something I really liked about Matt was that he never judged people, he never judged me, he would take you for who you were.
“He was a mate, he loved life, loved diving and loved music.”
Mr Finlay was diving with Mr Sykes at the time he was hit by a recreational fisherman’s boat.
“It is just a really tragic thing that happened,” he said.
“He had a yellow buoy with a dive flag.
“There was all the ocean in the world and Matt just happened to be in that square foot of water at that time.”
