champion surfer andy irons died of dengue fever today?

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mentoneman

mentoneman

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my friend from oahu just texted me....just saw a small banner on surfline pop up a minute ago....wow that's sad.
 
that must be one hell of a fever.... surfers are normally in great shape due to the torso movement/leg strength/constant swimming.

never heard of him or the disease though...:dunno:
 
Incredibly sad! I live in Hawaii and I surf too so I was just super shocked as was everybody. I guess there is an epidemic in Puerto Rico of Dengue Fever and that's where he first felt sick and dropped out of the contest. He was just trying to fly back home and died in Dallas in a hotel room because they wouldnt let him board his connecting flight to Hawaii. He should have gone to the hospital........ No disrespect to the dead but he might still be alive if he went to the hospital instead of a hotel. It sucks because he had a kid on the way and his career was starting to rebuild after a 1 year absence from the surf tour. He will definitely be a restless spirit. Poor guy was just trying to go home and get through it.
 
So , now it sounds like he actually was on an IV drip at a Florida hospital for 2 days and then wanted to go home and missed his flight in Dallas or was told he was too sick to board 1 of the 2. Then he got a room so he did go to the hospital. But they found a pill bottle that had methadone in it, so it's all going to get ugly from here and mysterious until the autopsy and toxicology reports are final. It's a bummer, either way he was trying to get his shit together but just didn't quite get there. RIP
 
my AI story

I was sent to Africa in 2007 for 3 weeks to shoot a hunting program called expedition safari
one leg of the trip took me to a game reserve called lalibela and I had to fly through port Elizabeth on the southern coast
at the airport I recognize a guy picking up a surfboard at my baggage claim; Cory Lopez pro surfer
when we arrive at the lodge that night I'm talking with the bartender and he's a surfer so I tell him I saw Lopez
He says because the billabong Jeffreys Bay contest is starting tommorrow and is an hour and a half drive from the lodge and in fact the native dancers at our lodge are driving there in the morning and performing at the opening ceremonies

being a surfer and realizing I was so close to one of the most famous spots on earth I managed to work out my schedule and get a ride down to the contest with my camera.

I ran through the crowd and set up my tripod as fast as I could and as I pressed record the announcer says "first rider up Andy irons..."

Here I am on the viewing platform at J-Bay surrounded by screaming fans filming world champ AI pulling into a sweet barrel. He was surfing against Mick fanning. The following heat would be Kelley slater, but the contest officials decided to call off the contest for the rest of the day due to inconsistent conditions, so instead of a 30 minute heat,
Kelley paddled out for a 2 hour free surf session and I filmed every single ride from the official camera tower which was left empty as soon as the contest was called for the day.

Bruce Irons, andys brother, was standing a few feet away from me and cracking up as I scolded my friends for calling their footwear flip flops and sandals

Brah you gotta call um "slippah" or da locals going give you cracks

one of the greatest fringe benefit moments in my whole career--a surveys dream come true and AI was a part of it
 
sucks. I knew that dude. My cousin is Bruce Young. hes in Australia now. Thats a weird tropical thing he got.
 
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