Surfing champ Andy Irons | Photo credit: Vince Cavataio

Along Waikiki and other beaches today, the coconut wireless was buzzing with the news that Hawaii surfing champion Andy Irons had died in Texas, on his way back from a pro surfing event in Puerto Rico.  Irons was in his prime, and making a comeback.  As many stunned folks tried to find out what happened, a wave of sadness swept over the Hawaiian islands and the surfing world.

Aired on NPR’s Newscast, November 2, 2010
By Heidi Chang

In Hawaii, many are mourning the loss of surfing legend Andy Irons. He was 32.

Listen to the Story (:47)
[audio:https://heidichang.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Andy-Irons-NPR-Newscast.mp3|titles=Andy Irons NPR Newscast]

Irons was a three-time world surfing champion, and had returned to the World Tour this year, after a one-year hiatus. Irons was set to compete in a surf contest in Puerto Rico, when he withdrew, reportedly because he’d been suffering from dengue fever. He was on his way home to Hawaii, when he died during a layover in Dallas. Jodi Wilmott is a spokeswoman for pro surfing events in Hawaii.

Jodi Wilmott | Photo credit: Heidi Chang

Wilmott says “Andy Irons was one of the greatest world champions that surfing has known, not only for the world titles he won, but also for raising the bar so high for other competitors of his time like Kelly Slater, and also for inspiring a young generation of surfers around the world.”

Irons was heading back to the island of Kauai, where he lived with his wife. She’s expecting their first child next month. An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.