Just before bed last night I got a text message from a surfer friend in New York City.
"Did you hear about Andy Irons," she text.
"Nope?" I replied.
The following news was the kind you never want to hear. The kind that makes it hard to go to sleep.
The 3-time World Champion and only surfer ever to defeat Kelly Slater when he was in his prime has passed away. And apparently of dengue fever??? All I could say was 'what the f*ck?' I guess we'll find out for sure when autopsy reports are released, but initial reports saying he got the virus in Puerto Rico and died in Dallas while trying to get back to Hawaii are mind blowing to me. Having traveled to Africa, India, South America and other places where dengue fever is a risk, I personally have learned to take precautions (insect repellent), but also was always under the belief that dengue kills the young, old and weak. NOT an elite athlete.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Irons family. Andy will be remembered as one of the greatest surfers ever! Mahalo Andy for all the inspiration and aloha you gave to the world of surfing!
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I heard about this today. I'm not a surfer, or would even begin to know anything about the sport, but it is really sad news. Whenever anyone passes unexpectedly it really makes you think and be greatful of each day. And Dengue is such a rare disease, it's too bad he wasn't diagnosed and helped. Must have happened really quickly. So sad for his family, friends and everyone in the sport.
ReplyDeletewhat a bummer... sounds like a rare disease. sad day for the surfing world. thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteunbelievable!!!
ReplyDeletehe is a great pro surfer.
he and bruce had "annual Irons Brothers Pine Tree Classic". The Classic, which continues to grow in attendance each year, is a surf contest for young up and coming kids on the Hanalei's Kauai island and includes food, games and prizes from event sponsors.
Dengue is prevalent throughout the tropics and subtropics. Outbreaks have occurred recently in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Central America. Cases have also been imported via tourists returning from areas with widespread dengue, including Tahiti, Singapore, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the West Indies, India, and the Middle East (similar in distribution to the areas of the world that harbor malaria and yellow fever). Dengue is now the leading cause of acute febrile illness in U.S. travelers returning from the Caribbean, South America, and Asia.
couldn't agree more - a huge loss for the surfing world.
ReplyDeleteKia Kaha brother