A NSW man has been accused of faking his own death after two friends found him alive and well, working in a cafe in Airlie Beach, Queensland.

Matthew Shirvington, 28, disappeared last June according to news.com.au, leaving behind his car filled with empty alcohol bottles and an apparent suicide note saying “I’m sorry.”

The ongoing inquest into his death and disappearance has been cancelled after two school friends reported stumbling across him working in the cafe last December.

When Mr Shirvington realised his friends had spotted him, he fled.

The cafe owner has since confirmed to police that the young man was working there under the fake name Charlie Thompson. After the encounter, Mr Shirvington did not return to work and has not been seen since.