Andy Irons // Teahupo'o // Photo: Flindt
SURFING has confirmed that Andy Irons has passed away, reportedly of Dengue Fever after withdrawing from The Rip Curl Pro Search in Puerto Rico. After leaving the event in Puerto Rico with a serious fever, Irons was told he was too sick to board his connecting flight in Dallas and got a hotel room. He was found dead in his hotel room this morning. Our hearts go out to the Irons family. We’ll miss you Andy.
Details to come.
Andy Irons // Snapper Rocks // Photo: Sherm
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joe- have some respect man. even if drugs played any role in his life this is not the time and the place for calling him out.
it has been reported that andy already had one strain of dengue (consists of 4 strains) dengue has a distinct feature: known as antibody-dependent enhancement which allows for increased uptake and virion replication during a secondary infection with a different strain immunological phenomenon, known as original antigenic sin, the immune system is not able to adequately respond to the stronger infection, and the secondary infection becomes far more serious.
there are reports of a small epidemic in PR right now of dengue (5300 cases strong) if in fact andy had one strain and contracted another, he stood little chance without proper medical attention
andy is a legend. he is one of the reasons I surf. watching him in all the bill ballard videos when I was young got me super stoked for every session even if it was knee high east coast. His layback powerhacks are an icon of our beloved past time. He will always be remembered as a true surfing hero and an unbelievable competitive athlete. Long Live AI.
thoughts and prayers to the irons family…everyone go out and catch a wave for andy tomorrow.
andy we will miss you dearly… you were an inspiration to every person that has picked up a surfboard. you have been one of my favorite surfers as long as i can remember. we will never forget your impact on the surfing world and how you changed the sport forever. my prayers go out to his family…and may andy rest in peace!
The question arises: why didn’t the ASP step in and advise him properly? Why wasn’t he hospitalized in Puerto Rico? Why didn’t his friends insist he not travel? Where was everyone? It was shocking that Andy didn’t make his 1st Round Heat. When he couldn’t do the 2nd Round either, where was the medical support team???? This is such a tragedy. I am not trying to throw blame at anyone, but my God. One can’t help but think that this could have been avoided. What a horrible thing to let our friend struggle alone and be abandoned in Dallas.
been trying not to cry all day. such a legend taken. biggest shock. from idolizing him in videos as a kid, to watching him win his three titles over jimmy slade. fuck. Andy there will never be anyone like you ever again. Surfing died with you. Rest in peace.
Our condolences to the Irons Family. Be Strong. every day is GOOD.
Let us never forget one of the most gifted men to ever ride a wave. God bless
I can’t believe it. Don’t want to. I’m still in shock. Completely off balance all day at work. Didn’t know him but still affected. that’s how much of an influence he was and is. My heart goes out to the family.
Que Dios te bendiga hermano !!! i can’t believe that !!! pasaste a mejor vida por algo !!! solo dios sabe porque hace las cosas !!! R.I.P. ANDY !!! & catch the best heaven wave !!!
you were bigger than life; the legend that you were destined to be, you have become. save us a spot in the celestial lineup, someday we will share waves again, and smile and enjoy the eternity of your legacy…
Andy, you were one of the purist surfers to ever ride a wave. You surfed from the heart and were a huge inspiration. Surfers everywhere have lost a hero. You are a true legend who will live on forever. Rest In Peace.
i never gone forget your words in amado beach(portugal-algarve),you are a legend, and you never gone die for everbody.
absolutely cannot believe this, didn’t even know him but can’t hold back da tears. enjoy heaven bru, i hear da waves are awesome there.
i am so shocked about this, andy irons there will not be another surfer like you, you will always be a legend evan wen your in heaven you would be on everyones mind, especialy mine. i have been looking at these stories for about an hour now and finaly relised this is actualy happening. im trying to hold in a tear.
love you andy, your a great role model for kids my age (13) R.I.P BRO <3
His surfing was an inspiration to all of us. I loved watching him surf, i remember seeing Andy and Bruce tube riding at same time on consecutive waves in France – awesome. you will be missed
Andy Irons was Kelly Slaters Rival and we all know that!! He always was the one that made all ASP surfers feel a slight fear every time he entered the heat? A real true competitor and 3x World Champion, he and Kelly are and will always be WORLD CHAMPIONS and the two most competitive surfers I will ever know! Good bye my friend.
Sad to hear this. Andy was truely a legend. Wish his family and close friends the best. The ASP won’t be the same without him.
We know in Brazil that Dengue is a serious problem. Our government has to fight against it, during most part of the year, without success. So many peoples die by Dengue, year by year, here in Brazil. Isn´t easy to identify a Dengue, because there are 3 types of Dengue, but only one can to die people. We call “Dengue Hemorrágica” the most dangerous type. I believe that it is cause death of Andy Irons. We shocked in Brazil about. R.I.P., Iron. Our condolences to your family.
from Jorge, from Rio de Janeiro city,
BRAZIL.
Andy is a Legend.
He was in treatment, so he had his medicines. Use the right words.
Respect to AI. My prayers.
Since I live in Dallas, it was tough to hear how this transpired and that Andy didn’t find help there. My condolences to his family and friends.
La verdad que es dificil de ver y de creer, una persona como Andy con tanta energia y que vino de nuevo otra vez a darle palante.
One of the most polarizing personalities and gifted natural talents ive ever witnessed, and had the pleasure of traveling many years with. My heart goes out to Lyndie, Bruce, Phil, his mother, & and the extended Kaiui nation. God Bless
I Putra Irons for indonesia
I am sorry andy’s departure ….
Andy is and will always be a true legend , He was such an inspiration to the young kids on Kauai . He was and increible
surfer. Andy was a natural he was born to surf , he was my favorite
surfer of all time .I’m in complete shock and very sad . My heart
and prayers go out his family and his wife Lindy. The comment about
the ASP not seeing what was going on should be looked at ,so this
terrible accident will never happen again.
Much love & aloha
andy rest in peace,my respects for bruce and his family and his son is coming.
from arica chile.
The only one ever to outsurf KS.
A true champion passes away and i wonder if the organizers of the event at Puerto Rico informed properly about the consequences of tropical illness to the competitors.
Not to blame anybody but life is precious and should be taking seriously, this is an unfortunate loss that could be avoided if he had taken the proper medical treatment in time or at least if he was aware of the risks (dangers)of dengue. Andy was too strong to let Dengue took over him, he just didn´t know what he was fighting against.
Rest In Peace Andy, you will never be forgotten.
Andy, one of the best surfers ever, an inspiration for us,a LEGEND, and he will never be forgotten.
Respects for the Irons and Hawaii.
Costa Rica
Pura Vidaaaa!
It is so sad that he is dead because a bad organization and planning on how to treat this kind of disease.This is considered a third world country problem……wake up!!!
I am from El Salvador and even in this country to die of dengue fever you have to really be poor and unable to reach a hospital in time. This is someones fault, this should not have happened.
Mis condolencias para la familia bruce!! have a good trip Andy! We will surf together someday over the rainbow!!!
Rest in peace.. Costa Rica!!!!! Pura vida!!!
God bless you Andy. My heart is greatly saddened to hear of this loss to our world.
My condolences to the Irons family. It’s a very sad thing to lose him. Rest in peace.
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The world, not just surfing, has lost a great American ambassador and athlete. So sad to die so young, alone, whatever the reason. To the stonethrower losers, get off it. Andy Irons was among the best at what he did to ever walk the planet or ride the ocean. Period. He wrangled nature’s most frightning aquabeasts into jaw-droppingly beautiful masterpieces, with a unique powerful style (and smile) that will never be forgotten.
I don’t ride standing up anymore due to four broken vertebrae in 2004, but I ride prone and kneeling, and next time I’m out, I cry for you Andy, but mostly, thoughts of you will GET me out on the water again. Thank you, kid! Our prayers are with your wife, brother and family.
Its so funny growing up, your hero’s, they are so invincible. No matter how deep andy was or how late he dropped in, you knew he was going to make it. Why? because he was the man, nothing was going to stop him. But after hearing this yesterday morning it was like a sucker punch straight to the stomach…it sucks man but atleast I get to say I witnessed what Andy Irons has done in his life time. R.I.P. A.I.
Being a SoCal local and seeing Andy many times it’s hard to believe this has happened. Surfing has lost one of the greats. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, I wish there was something I could say, other then he will be missed.
Newport Beach,Ca
inaceptable esta mala noticia para la comunidad surfista mundial, Andy ahora esta remando el pico hacia el cielo, dios bendiga al surfing y reciba al campeón.
Venezuela presente en luto activo.
A fantastic powerful surfer. Beautiful style. My thoughts go to the family, the wife and a baby that will miss his/her dad. Now, how is it possible that he was so sick and traveling alone? This could be avoided. Dengue is a serious thing but treated right and in time, you can recover. How is that the ASP, friends, Billabong, etc let AI travel alone? From San Juan to Hawaii is a long trip.
So sad, such a brilliant surfer to die alone on a hotel room in Dallas.
So, was it dengue?
He was such a gifted human being. things happen for a reason and the asp and sponsors have to doublecheck the procedures to check these athletes’s health. this was a mistake, maybe his or whatever, now he’s gone. just hope AI is in heaven surfing cloud waves.
Bless his family and coming child, wich ovbiosuly will surf as good as him.
Paz desde Colombia!
Andy was a real surfer. just let the memories spreeding around the world like flowers on the sea . My condolences to the Irons family.Brazil will remember the great man he was.
Sérgio Castro Medina
Florianopolis-Brazil
Andy you surfer with more soul than I’ve ever seen in my life, I just cant believe the man who was always on the posters on my wall is gone. Words cant describe how crucial he was in the surfing community, hes been a hero to just about anyone who knows the sport. I know your in heaven know man.
RIP Andy Irons
My favorite ever. Unbelievable. I am very sad. My best to all of his family, and to all the surfing world as a whole. It’s unusual to idolize a younger man, but Andy Irons was/is certainly one of my few heroes.
Kia Ora, e noha ra Andy known you for a long time since early 90s. You are a true Surfing Legend for all time. You will live forever in our hearts and anytime the ocean breaks, ride free tangata me he mahaki ngakau. Mihi Andy. Kia ora Aotearoa (NZ)
The world of surfing is not going to be the same without ANDY.
CHILE, is sad to watch his CHAMPION leave.
All our respects to his Family and Friends.
THE KING OF SURFING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING.
Andy you are going to be in our hearts for ever.
GOD BLESS YOU
Andy Irons will be forever in our hearts, he is now Riding waves in Heaven with the greatest…Duke Kahammamoku.
Another leyend RIses to inmortality…
Andy Irons 1978-2010
About Andy Irons, there are a surf magazine here in Brazil called “FLUIR MAGAZINE”. In last issue, from october, had a text about Bruce Irons. The title of text is: “CEDO DEMAIS PARA MORRER”, that means: “TOO YOUNG TO DIE”. That´s incredible the publisher said it before Andy died.
from Jorge, from Brazil.
mail: rootsland2001@yahoo.com.br
Hey guys..I can`t already understand how has happened this to Andy..dead by dengue while coming back home;it’s so difficult to take..poor Andy…..I enjoyed seeing you surfing as a maniac,and your layback and turns will stay in my mind forever..rest in peace Andy Irons,i will never forget you..
Querido Andy,
se que estas bien. me caias gordo, hasta que comence a apreciar tu belleza, tu energía y entendía tu manera de ser al imaginar el origen. Nunca te vi en persona pero vi tu garra y corazón limpio y puro, eras transparente y claro, gran cualidad. ME diste la oportunidad de leerte y entenderte. para mi , desde lejos fuiste un cometa que iluminó la noche y puso pasión a mi mundo interior del surf. bien definido sin medias tintas. Tu familia estará bien, ya verás. Con profundo respeto te despido, nos vemos allá despues de mi última ola.
PD que pedo con el serviciop médico del ASP, ¿donde estaban, fumando?.
Andy was among the best of the best, a true real surfer. It is a sad moment for all of us. Go and catch the best way of you life in honor to Andy
My deepest sympathies to the Irons family. I’m so sorry
Lo mas importante ahora no es como murio, ya es muy tarde para eso,, lo mejor es recordar como vivio….
Mi mas sentido pesame para la familia de Irons………
Guatemala lamenta su perdida…..
[...] http://blogs.surfingmagazine.com/news/rip-andy-irons-july-24-1978-november-2-2010/ [...]
Just been at the paddle out for Andy at Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay. Locals here are still in shock, we have lost a good friend who was also a special mentor to may of the young surfers in town. Our deepest condolences to his family and wife from the entire J-Bay surfing community. Hamba kahle mfowethu!