Mourning in sport: the punch that left Australian surfing legend dead

Photo:

Screenshot Nalu TV, iStock

Chris Davidson was the victim of an assault leaving a bar. The world of surfing fires him.

The surfing world paid tribute on Monday to Australian surfer Chris Davidson, who died on Saturday after receiving a punch and hitting his head on the ground outside a local bar in South West Rocks, New South Wales.

mourning in the surf

“The World Surf League, and the surfing community in general, are sad (…) Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” the World Surf League said on Instagram in a tribute to Davidson, 45, and who came to be considered the fourteenth best surfer in the world in 2010 and 2011.

“I had good battles with this man. One of the most talented surfers I’ve ever met,” said 11-time world champion Kelly Slater.

According to the New South Wales Police, a 42-year-old man, who has been arrested, allegedly tipped a punch to Davidsonwho fell to the ground and hit his head on the ground on Saturday night in the town 450 kilometers north of Sydney.

“He was treated by ambulance attendants before being taken to Kempsey Hospital where he died shortly after,” a police statement said.

The Australian surfer died in hospital and the alleged assailant was arrested.

Davidson, who went on to beat Slater in some shows in the 1990s, was third in the 2010 Portuguese championship, in which Slater came first.