A holidaymaker has described the scene of ‘absolute chaos’ after an Australian local footy player was found dead in his hotel room during a boys’ trip to Bali.
Taylor ‘Rocky’ Rockliffe, 26, from Lake Munmorah on the NSW central coast, died ‘unexpectedly’ on Monday.
Details surrounding his death have not been shared with the public while his family fundraising to bring his body home.
A woman staying two doors down said Mr. Rockliffe was found in his hotel room by one of his friends.
She said the boys were “so young and lost” and the scene erupted into “absolute chaos” with police and crime scene investigators “everywhere.”
Her report comes as Mr Rockliffe’s final moments have come to light, including a terrifying Instagram post made just three days before his death.
Taylor ‘Rocky’ Rockliffe, 26, from Lake Munmorah on the NSW central coast, died suddenly on Monday while on holiday in Bali
“This was bloody traumatic to see yesterday, I think I’ve slept three hours since it happened,” said the traumatized holidaymaker.
“I’m also a big believer in travel insurance, and unlike all the GoFundMes, this was a sudden death in his hotel room, and his family is now left to pick up the pieces.”
The exact circumstances surrounding Mr Rockliffe’s death are unknown, but it is understood he was found unconscious on his bed in his hotel.
Mr Rockliffe was due to meet friend Travis Brayden at 8.30am as they were both having tattoos completed at a local salon.
But when he failed to show up, Mr Brayden became concerned and at 10.20am he asked staff at the Grand Sinar Inda Hotel to be taken to Mr Rockliffe’s room, where they found the door unlocked.
“Mr. Brayden tried to wake him up, but there was no response,” Denpasar police spokesman Ketut Sukadi said.
‘He then asked hotel staff to call the medical team, but when they arrived they pronounced Mr Rockliffe dead.’
Police said there were no signs of violence or a struggle in the room.
Mr Rockliffe was due to view the hotel the day after his death.
Denpasar police officers speak to staff at the Grand Sinar Inda Hotel where Mr Rockliffe was staying (pictured). He was supposed to check out the next day
Officers investigate Mr. Rockliffe’s hotel room
The tradie had been on a drinking trip on the Indonesian holiday island with four friends.
Three of the boys, including Mr Rockliffe, had a light-hearted Instagram page called ‘Three Pigs Roaming’, where they documented their pub trips around rural NSW.
One post shared on the page a week ago included a photo of the three friends standing in front of a street bar in Denpasar.
“Well, it turns out pigs can fly,” the caption read.
‘We’re in Bali soaking up the sun and giving 110% of our holiday diet and you know there’s only one beach bar we’ll even think about going to for a drink.
‘In fact, no VBs are served here and we are more than happy with that!!!
“If you’re in Bali, go to the Beach Bum bar and put on your flex.”
Another post included a video of the group shooting shots and drinking beer at a Balinese bar.
Mr Rockliffe was seen throwing back several shots alongside three others while bottles of Bintang beer were on the table.
The last post on the page was shared on Friday and included the haunting caption: ‘Three pigs are LIVIN’.
Mr Rockliffe posed with his friends on a sun lounger at the popular Finn’s Beach Club on Bali’s south coast.
Mr Rockliffe (second from left in photo) had been on a drunken trip with four male friends at the Indonesian holiday destination
On Friday, just three days before his tragic death, Mr Rockliffe posed with his friends on a sun lounger at the popular Finn’s Beach Club on Bali’s south coast (pictured)
Wearing just trunks and sunglasses, he smiled at the camera as his friends sipped their beers.
“Three pigs are LIVIN,” the caption read.
Mr. Rockliffe’s family has one GoFundMe Tuesday to raise enough money bringing their loved one’s body home and pay for the funeral.
‘My best friend, my brother, my everything, passed away unexpectedly on 1-8-24 during a holiday in Bali. I am pleading with everyone if they can spare a moment to help my family bring him home to Australia,” his sister Brie said in the fundraiser.
“He needs to be home with his family and friends and he deserves to be surrounded by the people he loved so much. Please help us from the bottom of my heart.’
On Wednesday afternoon, his sister confirmed they had agreed to transport his body home after the fundraiser raised nearly $60,000.
Members of Mr Rockliffe’s rugby club, the Morisset Bulls, also paid tribute to him on Facebook.
Mr Rockliffe’s sister (right), Brie (second from left), launched a GoFundMe to transport his body back to Australia
Members of Rockliffe’s local rugby club, the Morisset Bulls, paid tribute to him ‘as a player, as a mentor and above all as a mate’
“It is with broken hearts that we would like to express our sincere condolences to the Rockliffe family. Yesterday we lost one of the greats,” the post read.
“Taylor, you will be deeply missed as a player, as a mentor and most of all as a buddy.
“Your friendship and passion echoed through our 2023 season. To our Bulls Boys & Family: Take care of yourselves during this time and support each other.”
Others on social media who knew Mr Rockliffe were also shocked to hear the sudden news of his death and wished his family well.
“The love you had for your family and in return for you was always beautiful to see,” a friend wrote.
“I knew Taylor playing football, he was a great guy. Taken too quickly. Fly high buddy,” wrote another.