Andy Irons: Latest on the Shocking Death of a Surfing Champion

Tom KinslowNov 3, 2010

Andy Irons was one of the greatest surfers alive and he died at age 32 on Tuesday.

Irons had recently withdrawn from an event with an illness and was on his way back home to Hawaii when he was found dead in his hotel room. The cause of death is unknown at this time and there is an investigation into what killed him.

Inside is the latest news and recap of who Irons was and his achievements as a surfer.

Methadone Found In Hotel Room

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 24: Andy Irons (Hawaii) carries his board out of the water with a broken fin after Heat 4 of the Men's Round of 24 during the 2009 Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 24, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Victor

When Andy Irons was found in hotel room, so were numerous medications according to TMZ.

One of those medications was methadone which was found inside a bottle for another prescription medication. It's now being looked at as a possible overdose but other options are being explored as well as to what caused his death.

It's just a sad situation if it is indeed an overdose.

Dengue Fever?

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 24: Andy Irons (Hawaii) looks to the line-up as he walks southward down the beach prior to his morning heat during the 2009 Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 24, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Victor Decolo

Andy Irons got sick at a recent competition and was diagnosed with Dengue fever and was sent home and took an IV before deciding to head home.

The illness is the fastest growing mosquito-borne illness in the world and Irons was on his way back to Hawaii to get treatment from his personal doctor and was on a layover in Texas when he was found in his hotel room.

I had never heard of it until now but maybe there will be more awareness about the illness now.

No Foul Play

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 24: Andy Irons (Hawaii) turns off the top in Heat 4 of the Men's Round of 24 during the 2009 Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 24, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

The medical examiner ruled that there was no foul play or trauma involved with Andy Irons' death.

The cause of his death isn't known at this time and won't be until toxicology reports come back and all possibilities are explored but it's almost a little comforting to know that his life wasn't taken from him by another human being.

That would have been the ultimate tragedy on top of an already heartbreaking situation.

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Surfers Pay Tribute

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Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

TORQUAY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 21: Andy Irons of the United States of America competes during Round One of the Rip Curl Pro as part of the ASP World Tour held at Bells Beach March 21, 2008 in Torquay, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Dozens of surfers gathered today in Puerto Rico to pay tribute to Andy Irons' life and legacy

The Association of Surfing Professionals said that Irons' friends Dusty Payne and Roy Powers led the group out into the water and were followed by friends and fellow surfers and fans who brought flowers out into the water with them.

It sounds like a touching tribute to one of the all-time greats in the sport.

Irons Battled Inner Demons

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Pierre Tostee/Getty Images

TORQUAY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 14: Andy Irons of Hawaii in action against Nathan Hedge of Australia during the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach April 14, 2004 in Torquay, Australia. The Rip Curl Pro is round two of twelve events in the mens Fosters ASP World Cham

Andy Irons had a bit of a reputation of being a party boy and dealing with a lot of inner problems but had seemed to get past it in recent months.

"[Andy] wanted to die young. He knew it. Everyone kinda knew it. I think he wanted to be remembered like Elvis," Maroubra identity Koby Abberton told Stab Magazine

"Then, with his boy being born soon, he called and he was like, 'I take it all back, I take it all back. I wanna be there for my boy.' Just recently, Andy seemed like he'd been at peace with himself. He said to me, 'I've done everything I wanted to do."'

It's a shame that his child will grow up without a father.

Recap: Felt Ill At Event

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Andy Irons was competing in the ASP World Tour but withdrew from the second event due to an illness he contracted in Portugal which turned out to be Dengue fever.

Irons had the illness before and was reportedly feverish and vomiting and was sent home. The illness infected thousands of people in Puerto Rico and killed 29. He was in no condition to compete and went home to recover.

It's scary to think about these illnesses that we don't experience in America.

Recap: Found In Hotel Room

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Andy Irons was on his way home to Hawaii and was stopped in a layover in Dallas staying in a hotel waiting for his flight.

No one knows what happened between him getting off of the plane and him being found in his room but the medication was found with him with no signs of trauma after a medical exam.

I just am curious that there was no one there with him to make sure he got home okay, knowing that he was very ill. I wish that a doctor had made sure that he had someone with him to look after him and get him better.

Bio: World Champion

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Andy Irons was a three time world champion and one of the best surfers in the world and of all time.

Irons was inducted to the Huntington Beach Walk of Fame in July of 2008 and at the time of being inducted, Irons had won three straight world titles, four Vans Triple Crown awards, two Pipeline Masters crowns and two U.S. Open of Surfing crowns.

Not a bad resume at all.

Bio: Rivalry With Kelly Slater

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Jeff Gross/Getty Images

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - AUGUST 08: Kelly Slater executes a cut back during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on August 8, 2010 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Andy Irons was a big rival with surfing legend Kelly Slater. The two pushed each other time and time again and with the news of his passing, Slater released a touching, emotional statement that reads in full:

"Andy was an absolutely gifted individual. I'm lucky to have known him and had the times we had together. I feel blessed that we worked through the differences we had and I was able to learn what I'm made of because of Andy. We enjoyed many quiet times together with our girls in the last year and I got to know a happy, funny, innocent kid who was happy to live every second with the people he loved. I'm so sad. My thoughts are with Bruce and Lyndie and their parents and all of his many friends around the world. It's a huge and far too premature loss for all of us. He was the most intense competitor I've ever known and one of the most sensitive people. He had so much life left in him and it hurts to think about. We look forward to his memory living on with our memories of him and his child on the way. There are a lot of uncles awaiting his arrival. I really miss Andy. He had a really good heart. With love, Kelly."

It was a classy move by a classy man.

Bio: Documentary Star

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Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 24: Andy Irons (Hawaii) walks through the shorebreak with a broken fin still on his board after his morning heat during the 2009 Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 24, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Victor D

Andy Irons was documented heavily in the 2004 documentary Blue Horizon.

It centered around the 2003 ASP World Title battle between Irons and Kelly Slater which came down to the final wave and also showed Irons' temper, which was famous for coming out when he lost, as is the case with a lot of athletes.

I'm sure a lot of people are going to go back and watch this movie now.