Tragedy as Socceroos star Stephen Laybutt’s body is found in bushland after the 46-year-old went missing
The body of former Socceroos star Stephen Laybutt has been discovered in bushland on the NSW north coast after he was reported missing on Saturday morning.
The 46-year-old – who made 15 appearances for the national team from 2000 to 2004 – spent Friday with friends near Casuarina, close to the Queensland border.
Police found his silver Mercedes parked outside a shop in Cabarita at 11.30am on Saturday and asked for the public’s help as they launched an extensive search.
Stephen Laybutt, 46, played 15 games for the national team from 2000 to 2004. He was reported missing near the NSW-Queensland border on Saturday morning.
Laybutt was playing for the Newcastle Jets (pictured right, fighting John Aloisi) when his career was ended by a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2008
Laybutt’s body was found in bushland near Cabarita at 7pm on Sunday. He was 46 years old.
The former Sydney Olympic and Newcastle Jets star came out as gay after his playing career was ended by an Achilles tendon rupture in January 2008.
In December 2021, Laybutt donated one of his kidneys to a virtual stranger by sending a life-saving text message as a random act of kindness.
At the time, he assisted patients recovering from surgery and other conditions in the rehabilitation department of St. Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney.
There he met Ian Pavey, 67, who was on the transplant list awaiting a donor for his failing kidneys.
Mr Pavey was on dialysis for three terrible years until a text from Laybutt on February 28 changed his life.
“Hey buddy, it’s Steve from St. Vincent’s,” the message read.
The football star came out as gay after retiring and said: ‘My sexuality had a huge effect on my career’
The 46-year-old (pictured playing for the Newcastle Jets) donated one of his kidneys to a virtual stranger in 2021 in a stunning display of generosity
Laybutt sent the above text message to Ian Pavey, 67, in February 2021
‘I want to see if I can give you a kidney. Think about it.’
‘Who is this?’ this is what the 67 year old replied.
The pair, who were virtual strangers, met while Laybutt was helping Mr Pavey recover from knee surgery while he was receiving dialysis in another part of the hospital.
“I just liked his attitude,” Laybutt said.
‘He was always positive. I thought, ‘I have to help this man.’ People have asked me what the thought process was behind it. I just thought it was the right thing to do.”
Pavey was in disbelief after spending three years on the hospital’s transplant list, with his wife deemed an incompatible donor.
But Laybutt was a perfect match.
Laybutt (pictured with a friend) previously revealed that hiding his true self took a toll because ‘no one knew’ he was gay before he came out
“After the operation, I sat in a private room in the public hospital just 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 thought I had to change the codes. We will be connected for life.’
Laybutt grew up in Wollongong before receiving a scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport.
He later signed with the Brisbane Strikers before representing Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with the Olyroos.
The same year, the rising football star made his debut with the Socceroos while bouncing between clubs in Europe and Australia.
After Laybutt retired during the 2008 A-League series due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the star came out as gay – something he was never comfortable with throughout his career.
Laybutt met his partner Michael Lutteral in 2010, and the footballer reflected on how his retirement from football could allow him to confront who he was.
The centre-back (pictured during Jets training) represented Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
“(My sexuality) had a huge effect on my career,” Laybutt said.
‘I wish I had played in a World Cup, but it was still quite a career.’
He revealed how much effort it was to reveal his true self after he finished playing football.
“There was no way I was ever going to get out,” he said.
‘Everyone says your mother knows, your best friend knows… Nobody knew.
‘It takes quite a bit of effort to hide like that. I had girlfriends; I thought I had to go down that path, but you’re like, ‘How is this going to work?’
‘Then football goes on and life goes on and you say to yourself: ‘Come on, be realistic’. Just lie to yourself all the time. That breaks you and you go down a path of self-destruction.”
Laybutt reached out to A-League star Josh Cavallo after coming out in October 2021.
“The support he is getting is great, but hopefully he can get going and become a decent player who is judged on his ability, not as a gay footballer, even though he always will be,” he said at the time.
‘I feel good about myself now. I am not ashamed or embarrassed. It’s who I am.’