Chilling last photo emerges of Socceroos star, 46, as he's found dead in bushland - and his stunning act of generosity that inspired Australia
- Footballer played 15 matches for the Socceroos
- Reported missing near NSW/Queensland border on Saturday
- Shocking discovery came after extensive police search
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Former Socceroos star Stephen Laybutt was seen wearing boardshorts and carrying a brown shopping bag on the day he went missing - as his body is found in bushland.
The 46-year-old - who played 15 matches for the national team from 2000 to 2004 -was last seen alive at a home in Casuarina, in northern NSW, at about 9pm on Friday.
He was reported missing the following day, when friends couldn't find him or contact him.
Police found his silver Mercedes parked outside a shop in nearby Cabarita at about 11.30am on Saturday, prompting an extensive search.
To help with search, police uploaded a CCTV image of Laybutt to social media, describing him as bald and with a distinctive Ying and Yang tattoo on his right calf.
The former A-league star could be seen wearing patterned blue boardshorts, thongs, and a light blue T-shirt with black sunglasses around his collar.
![Stephen Laybutt was last seen wearing blue boardshorts, thongs, and a blue shirt (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/02/80013395-12963249-image-a-29_1705286836243.jpg)
Stephen Laybutt was last seen wearing blue boardshorts, thongs, and a blue shirt (pictured)
![Stephen Laybutt, 46, played 15 matches for the national team from 2000 to 2004. He was reported missing on Saturday morning near the NSW/Queensland border](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/01/80011587-12963249-image-a-14_1705281430854.jpg)
Stephen Laybutt, 46, played 15 matches for the national team from 2000 to 2004. He was reported missing on Saturday morning near the NSW/Queensland border
![Laybutt was playing for the Newcastle Jets (pictured right, contesting a ball with John Aloisi) when his career was ended by a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2008](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/15/02/80011577-12963249-Laybutt_was_playing_for_the_Newcastle_Jets_pictured_right_contes-a-26_1705284382147.jpg)
Laybutt was playing for the Newcastle Jets (pictured right, contesting a ball with John Aloisi) when his career was ended by a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2008
His body was found in bushland near Cabarita at about 7pm on Sunday. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
In December 2021, Laybutt donated his kidney to 67-year-old Ian Pavey, who he met while working in the rehab unit at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Laybutt had been assisting patients who were recovering from surgery and other ailments when he met Mr Pavey who was on the transplant list awaiting a donor for his failing kidneys.
Mr Pavey endured an excruciating three years on dialysis, until a text message from Laybutt on February 28 changed his life.
'Hey mate it's Steve from St Vincent's,' the message said.
'I want to investigate if I could give you a kidney. Consider it please.'
'Who is this?' this the 67-year-old replied.
![The football star came out as gay after he retired, saying, 'My sexuality had a massive effect on my career'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/23/21/80011585-12963249-The_football_star_came_out_as_gay_after_he_retired_saying_My_sex-a-45_1706046240877.jpg)
The football star came out as gay after he retired, saying, 'My sexuality had a massive effect on my career'
![The 46-year-old (pictured playing for the Newcastle Jets) donated one of his kidneys to a virtual stranger in a stunning display of generosity in 2021](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/23/21/80011583-12963249-The_46_year_old_pictured_playing_for_the_Newcastle_Jets_donated_-a-46_1706046240882.jpg)
The 46-year-old (pictured playing for the Newcastle Jets) donated one of his kidneys to a virtual stranger in a stunning display of generosity in 2021
![Laybutt sent the above text message to Ian Pavey, 67, back in February 2021](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/23/21/80012173-12963249-Laybutt_sent_the_above_text_message_to_Ian_Pavey_67_back_in_Febr-a-47_1706046240887.jpg)
Laybutt sent the above text message to Ian Pavey, 67, back in February 2021
The pair, who were virtually strangers, met while Laybutt was helping Mr Pavey recover from knee surgery while he received dialysis in another part of the hospital.
'I just liked his attitude,' Laybutt said.
'He was always positive. I thought, 'I should help this guy'. People have asked me what the thought process was behind it. I just thought it was the right thing to do.'
Mr Pavey was in disbelief after spending three years on the hospital's transplant list, with his wife deemed as an incompatible donor.
Laybutt was a perfect match.
'After the operation, I was in a private room in the public hospital, just sitting there in disbelief that someone had actually done this for me,' Mr Pavey recalled.
'I knew he was a Socceroos player but I'm a rugby fan. I supposed I'll have to change codes. We will be bonded for life.'
![Laybutt (pictured with a friend) previously revealed hiding his true self took a toll on him as 'nobody knew' he was gay before he came out](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/23/21/80012037-12963249-Laybutt_pictured_with_a_friend_previously_revealed_hiding_his_tr-a-48_1706046240895.jpg)
Laybutt (pictured with a friend) previously revealed hiding his true self took a toll on him as 'nobody knew' he was gay before he came out
Laybutt grew up in Wollongong before he was awarded a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport.
He later signed with the Brisbane Strikers before representing Australia in the Sydney 2000 Olympics with the Olyroos.
In the same year the burgeoning football star made his debut with the Socceroos while bouncing between clubs in Europe and Australia.
After a ruptured Achilles tendon during the 2008 A-League series sent Laybutt into retirement, the star came out as gay - something he was never comfortable doing throughout his career.
Laybutt met his partner Michael Lutteral in 2010, and the soccer player reflected on how retirement from football allowed him to confront who he was.
![The centre back (pictured at Jets training) represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/23/21/80012125-12963249-The_centre_back_pictured_at_Jets_training_represented_Australia_-a-49_1706046240897.jpg)
The centre back (pictured at Jets training) represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
'[My sexuality] had a massive effect on my career,' Laybutt said.
'I wish I'd played in a World Cup – but it was still a half decent career.'
He revealed how much of a struggle it was to reveal his true self after he'd finished playing football.
'There was no way that I was ever going to come out,' he said.
'Everyone says your mum knows, your best friend knows … Nobody knew.
'It takes a fair bit of effort to hide like that. I had girlfriends; I thought I had to go down that path but you think, 'How's this going to work?'
'Then football goes and life moves on and you say to yourself, 'Come on, get real'. Just lying to yourself all the time. That breaks you and you head down a path of self-destruction.'
Laybutt contacted A-League star Josh Cavallo after he came out in October 2021.
'The support he's got is great, but hopefully he can kick on and be a decent player who is judged on his ability, not being the gay footballer, even if that's what he will always be,' he said at the time.
'I'm comfortable in my skin now. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed. It's who I am.'