The body of the 21-year-old, who drowned tragically at Lake Burrendong ,was recovered on Thursday morning after an intense 13-day search by land, air and water.

Team-mates from the Orana Spurs soccer club said Tim, who played left winger for second grade, gave his heart and soul to every game.

Coach Albi Mastellotto said his last encounter with Tim summed up the kind of person he was.

“It was an under-18s game a few Friday’s ago and it was freezing cold. There were only two senior players who came to support the team and Tim was one of them,” Mr Mastellotto said. “I still have a vision of Tim sitting there watching the game with his girlfriend on his lap. Tim was a top a bloke, he always put in 100 per cent. He would go flat out at training and he was very well mannered.”

Having been through family tragedy himself, Mr Mastellotto said Tim’s passing is a big loss to the club.

“It’s sad what’s happened, but it’s given the family closure,” he said.

Mr Mastellotto’s son Reece Mastellotto, who played indoor soccer and attended Dubbo College Senior Campus with Tim, remembered his mate a similar way to his father.

“Tim was a great musician. I remember he performed to the whole school once, he sang a 3 Doors Down song and when he finished everyone stood up and applauded,” Reece said.

“He was so talented, he was a bloke you would find hard to dislike.

Tragically Tim was just one week away from celebrating his 21st birthday party when he went missing on June 21, while on a weekend fishing trip at Lake Burrendong with two friends. Reece who is celebrating his 21st birthday this weekend said the two young men talked about the birthday parties they were planning.

“I have my party on Saturday night and I will be thinking of him, it will be awkward without him there. It’s so sad he didn’t get to experience this,” Reece said.

Tributes also flowed from work colleagues at The Village Hotbake Bakery and Cafe where Tim worked part-time.

Bakery manager Ross Plant said Tim’s caring nature made him a favourite with the staff and customers and he said the news of his death hasn’t sunk in.

“It shouldn’t have happened to a guy like that, he was such a caring person ... all the staff are pretty cut up about it,” Mr Plant said.

“Things were just starting to work out for him. I saw him a week before the accident and had a chat with him and his girlfriend and he said he was so happy. Now he’s not with us anymore, it’s really hard to fathom.

“Life is so precious,” he said.

“The Orana Spurs soccer club and the Village Hotbake both offer their sincere wishes to the Kent family.”

“We are going to miss him” Orana Spurs Soccer Club member Andrew Toole said.

belinda.galloway@ruralpress.com