Australian former professional surfer Chris Davidson died aged 45, Saturday, after he was punched outside of a pub in South West Rocks, New South Wales.
Police found Davidson unconscious on the sidewalk outside the pub after another patron allegedly punched him in the face, CNN reported. Paramedics transported Davidson to a local hospital, where he died a short time later.
Police arrested a 42-year-old man in connection with Davidson’s death and charged him with assault causing death, CNN continued. The Port Macquarie Bail Court denied him bail Sunday.
The World Surf League, and the surfing community at large, are saddened to learn that former CT surfer Chris Davidson, of Narrabeen, Australia tragically passed away on Saturday. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/pBHPSD77nF
— World Surf League (@wsl) September 25, 2022
Davidson was raised in Sydney, and shot to fame after beating world champion surfer Kelly Slater in the 1996 Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia, the BBC reported. He also competed in the 2010 and 2011 world surfing tours.
Tributes to Davidson have poured in online, with the World Surf League writing that the organization “and the surfing community at large, are saddened to learn that former CT surfer Chris Davidson, of Narrabeen, Australia, tragically passed away on Saturday. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.” (RELATED: Two People Attacked By Sharks In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
Rip Curl shared that Davidson was “a supremely talented surfer who inspired a generation when he burst onto the scene as a teenager.” Surfing Australiashared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, noting that “Davo was an incredibly talented surfer and a true individual in our sport and community.”