Kalani David, a champion surfer, passed away at the age of 24 after having a medical problem during a practise.
The Hawaiian pro passed away on Saturday in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, after having a seizure while swimming, according to local authorities.
“He was surfing when he apparently suffered some kind of epileptic seizure and drowned,” the country’s Judicial Investigation Department told the Associated Press.
“Kalani passed away in Costa Rica today, he had a massive seizure while surfing,” friend Peter King wrote in an Instagram post announcing the death.
He continued: “He had re-connected with family there and was having such a great time. I’ll always remember your stoke when we’d shoot skate n surf, and how much hop you had for (your) future.
“God bless the family and extended family that were always there for you.”
Following the surfer’s passing, David’s younger brother posted a statement on Instagram, according to The New York Post.
“You are the ideal brother a person could have. Kalani, I’ll miss you,” Keoni wrote.
According to reports, the athlete had heart surgery six years ago because he had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a congenital heart ailment.
Costa Rican authorities say they are still looking into the death.
Kalani, a former world junior surfing champion, finished in second place in the 2019 Bali Red Bull Airborne final.
Davis was a skilled skateboarder as well.
According to Beach Grit, David placed higher than professional skaters Bobby Burnquist and Bucky Laskek when competing at the World Junior Championships in Bali.
He had opened up about his health issues before, telling Stab magazine in 2016: “If it was life or death, and I had to choose skating or surfing.
“I’d choose death.”
