A heartbroken Rhylee Stephen has bared her soul on social media after her partner, Matthew Bielefeld, lost his life in the Finke Desert Race. First responders could not save the 27-year-old motorbike rider who tragically crashed last Sunday during the first leg of the race from Alice Springs to Aputula/Finke.
Late on Monday, Bielefeld’s family released a statement, saying they were mourning the loss of “our beautiful boy, brother to Scott, partner to Rhylee”.
And now Rhylee has shared shattering details of her final moments with her beloved partner, who had been super excited to get into the race and face all the challenges the desert would bring.
“To my best friend, soulmate, partner in crime, my love, my handsome man, and now my beautiful angel in the sky,” she wrote on social media.
Bielefeld was super excited on the day of the race. He had spent countless hours preparing for it. Stephen says she had a once-in-a-lifetime relationship with her beloved Matthew.
“There are simply not enough words to express the impact you had on the lives of everyone around you, especially mine. You had the most beautiful soul, inside and out.
“Even on your hardest days, you wore the biggest smile and always put others before yourself without a second thought. People often say that not everyone gets to experience a love like the one you gave me in their lifetime, and I know how fortunate I am that I did. You changed my life and the way I see the world for the better, and I will carry that with me forever.”
Stephen then talked about the day of the fatal race, and how Bielefeld was bursting with excitement.
“Sunday, June 7, was your day, the Finke race. Your blue eyes sparkled with excitement, and you couldn’t wait to cross that finish line and earn your Survivor’s Spike,” she said. “I watched you spend months preparing, dedicating countless hours to something you were so passionate about. It was all you talked about because it was what you loved most.
“We said goodbye before I headed down to Finke to meet you at the halfway mark, never knowing that my entire world was about to change forever. I still cannot comprehend a life without you in it, or the fact that we won’t get to continue building the future we dreamed of together.
“You did not deserve this. You had so much more life to live, so many more dreams to chase, and so much more love to give. I am so incredibly proud of you and everything you achieved. You were someone to admire in every sense of the word.”
She also revealed she had collected Bielefeld’s “Survivor’s Spike”, given to each competitor. However, in this case, it’s a painful, sad reminder of a race he did not survive.
“I will keep (the spike) close to my heart forever,” she said. “I promise to carry your legacy with pride, to tell your story, and to live in a way that would make you proud. I will miss you forever. I love you so much my beautiful angel. Until we meet again my love. #Forever216.”
Bielefeld was competing in his second Finke race along with his brother.
“I would like to thank the campers who tried to revive my son at the crash as I’m sure it has affected them as well and not what they wanted with their Finke experience,” Bielefeld’s father said earlier this week. “As much as things are tough right now, it’s people like that that make the Finke experience. With a heavy heart I say thank you.”
Finke Desert Race NT Police Commander Michael Budge said the incident was a tragedy for all involved. “Our thoughts are with the rider’s family, friends and all involved with the event at this difficult time,” he said.
The race resumed, with Travis Robinson and Paul Currie winning the cars title, and Alice Springs local David Walsh claiming a record-equalling sixth King of the Desert title in the motorbike category.
