Three times world surfing champion Andy Irons has been found dead in a Dallas hotel room. The 32-year-old was reported to be suffering from dengue fever and had missed a flight home to Hawaii when he was found by hotel staff.
"The world of surfing mourns an incredibly sad loss today with the news that Hawaii's Andy Irons has died," said a statement posted on the website of his sponsor Billabong surfwear.
"Irons withdrew from a professional surfing event in Puerto Rico last weekend due to illness and passed away during a layover en-route to his home in Kauai, Hawaii," the statement said.
"He had reportedly been battling with dengue fever, a viral disease."
The world's surfing media reported that Irons became sick during the Rip Curl Search contest in Puerto Rico this week and pulled out of the event.
He then spent two days in Miami on an intravenous drip, but insisted on heading home to see his own doctor. However, his condition deteriorated and he failed to board a connecting flight to Hawaii out of Dallas.
Staff found his body in a hotel room yesterday morning.
Andy Irons was regarded as one of the world's greatest competitive surfers and big wave riders, winning three consecutive world titles from 2002 to 2004. His brother Bruce is also one of the world's finest surfers.
He is survived by his wife Lyndie, who is pregnant with their first child.
Reuters