RIP Andy Irons

STAB MAG
Hawaiian Andy Irons is dead. He was 32. Andy, the three-time world champion and the only a surfer to challenge and beat Kelly Slater at his peak, had been diagnosed with Dengue Fever, a mosquito-borne disease. Andy caught the disease in Puerto Rico, where an outbreak of Dengue Fever this year has resulted in 8381 confirmed infections and 29 deaths.

Too ill to compete in the WCT event there, he left the island and flew to Miami where he was put on a drip by a doctor. Andy wanted to see his own doctor in Hawaii, but on the connecting flight from Miami to Dallas he began vomiting. He left the flight and checked into a hotel room at the Grand Hyatt, DFW. Andy was found dead in his bed by hotel staff when he failed to answer a wake-up call. He was pronounced dead at 9:46am, CST. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow at nine am to determine the cause of death. If a toxicology test is required, it may take up to three months to complete.

Andy's wife Lyndie is six weeks away from giving birth to their first child, a boy, Axel Jason Irons.

"I've had my fair shares of hills and valleys, but my life's been radical and exciting. Stuff that kings would die to do. Straight up, fucken A. The lifestyle we've got and the life I've led since I was 17, I can't even tell my friends. I try and tell stories and they think I'm making it up or saw in in a fucking movie. Straight up. It's the life I wanted since I caught my first wave." Andy Irons, October 12, 2010.

Derek Rielly

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TRANSWORLD SURF
It is with a heavy heart that we spread this news of Andy Irons untimely death. Initial reports have him passing away after getting dengue fever in Puerto Rico where outbreaks have been reported. On Sunday, Andy, 32, withdrew from the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico citing an illness. According to reports which have yet to be confirmed, Andy was so sick he was unable to board his flight from Dallas to Kauai, got a hotel room, and was found there dead by an employee leaving behind a pregnant wife, family, and world full of friends and fans.

More details to follow.

Andy will be greatly missed by all.

Andy took the ASP World Tour by storm and won the World Championship in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He will be remembered as the one guy in the world who could regularly beat Kelly Slater and his surfing in waves of consequence will live on forever. Just this year, Andy was one of five surfers we chose to have in the TransWorld SURF surf movie, High Five. His part was last (given to the best performing surfer) and perfectly displayed his legendary backside tube riding skills and man-sized hacks.

Our deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of Andy. Please show respect in your comments as this is a terribly sad day for the family and friends of AI

Chris Coté