Surfer Andy Irons dead at 32

If you're not a surfer, or into surfing culture, the name probably won't be familiar. But those who do recognize him as one of the greats. Andy Irons died this week at 32. His family said he was battling Dengue fever, a disease carried by mosquitoes and endemic to countries in the tropics including Puerto Rico, where Irons was scheduled to compete. But today, reports are circulating of an investigation of Iron's death as a possible methadone overdose. This and other medications were reportedly found in the hotel room where he died.

• [johnphantom]

  I’ve had Dengue – they also call it Breakbone Fever. It is very nasty – so nasty that the US government researched it as a biological weapon. I walked into the ER with a 104.7 fever and they quarantined me with a nurse 24/7 for more than two weeks while I recovered. Evidently pain killers have some sort of adverse effect, so…

• [Anonymous]

  That is a lovely video. he starts with all of the material benefits (cars, girls) and then just talks about the feeling he gets from riding that wave. for anyone who has ever surfed at any level, we all know what he’s talking about. RIP andy.

• [tylerkaraszewski]

  Very sad if he accidentally caused his own death by trying to self-treat his illness with a medication that caused complications.

• [teapot]

  …and his wife is due to give birth to their first child in a month.

  Very, very sad indeed.

• [Anonymous]

  Sad sad… One of the new breed of surfers. 4 time pipeline and Op pro champ. Gave Slater a reason to keep surfing.

  RIP Andy!