Surfing champion Irons dead
Updated November 3, 2010 10:22:00
Three-time surfing world champion Andy Irons has died from dengue fever on his way home to Hawaii from a surfing event.
The 32-year-old was forced to withdraw from the current men's tour event in Puerto Rico and was found dead in Dallas, Texas on Tuesday after being too ill to board a connecting flight home.
Irons claimed three consecutive world titles from 2002 to 2004.
Irons is the only professional surfer to win at every location on the world tour, racking up 19 victories in a terrific career.
He was one of the few surfers to consistently match nine-time world champion and fellow American Kelly Slater.
Irons's last event win came in Tahiti in early September.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/03/3055693.htm?site=sport§ion=all
