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Surfer Andy Irons dies at age 32
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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.
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A man considered to be one of the best surfers in the world has died, leaving much of the surfing world in shock. Andy Irons died suddenly today at age 32.
Legendary surfer Andy Irons of Hawaii gave fellow pro surfer Kelly Slater a run for his money over the past decade. Irons held three world surfing titles and won 20 elite world tour titles and a bunch of other pro surfing competitions.
He was said to be poised to make a comeback. But Irons bowed out of a competition in Puerto Rico over the weekend because he wasn’t feeling good. He reportedly was fighting dengue fever, a type of viral infection.
A statement from his family says Irons died during a layover on his way back home to Hawaii. He was 32 years old. Irons said in a recent short film that he loved to surf because of the feeling he got riding the wave. He said he surfed because he was always a better person when he came in.
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Irons is survived by his parents and his wife, who is due with the couple’s first child.
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