Brazilian pro surfer shot dead
Brazilian surfer Ricardo dos Santos has died after being shot three times, allegedly by an off-duty police officer, outside his home in Santa Catarina.
Unconfirmed reports in Brazilian media claim the 24-year-old was shot after going outside to attempt to stop a group of men that were openly using drugs in the street.
Other reports said dos Santos was working on home improvements with his grandfather when a car parked on top of a pipe being used in the project. When he asked the driver to move, he was shot.
After suffering gunshot wounds in the stomach and chest he was flown to a local hospital and underwent several surgeries before later dying of multiple organ failure.
An off-duty police officer has been arrested over the murder but claims he was acting in self-defence, according to Brazilian news website Globo.
Ricardo's last Instagram post describes him perfectly. #RIPRicardoDosSantos pic.twitter.com/BT7sZPTzHB
— Billabong (@billabong1973) January 20, 2015
He drew worldwide recognition when he took home the prestigious Andy Irons Award at the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2012.
The surfing community is mourning the death of the popular surfer.
Eleven-time ASP World Tour champion Kelly Slater paid tribute to dos Santos on Instagram, after surfers paddled out at Hawaii's Banzai Pipeline.
Beautiful morning but I was horrified to realize everyone was paddling out to Pipe to form a circle in… http://t.co/ctxK7U2mYR
— Kelly Slater (@kellyslater) January 20, 2015
"(Santos) was truly one of the great barrel riders of his short time (myself and a few others learned that the hard way against him at Teahupo'o a couple years back when he won the #AndyIronsAward in the event).
"He also won the#WaveOfTheWinter in 2012-2013 for a crazy barrel at #Pipeline and was a regular standout in any barreling or heavy conditions around the world.
"This was truly a senseless loss of life. It unfortunately brings to light the number of murders yearly in Brasil, officially documented at over 50,000 with many thousands more going unreported.
"Lack of education, poverty, and drugs don't make for a good mix and make life challenging in this country, one of the most beautiful and scariest places I've been.
"Condolences to Ricardo's friends and family around the world. Our small community has lost another way too soon."
The impact of dos Santo’s death has particularly rocked the Brazilian surfing community, who just recently were celebrating Gabriel Medina’s win of the 2014 ASP World Tour.
On of surfing's finest passed away today, RicardDos Santos. #RIPRicardoDosSantos: http://t.co/XCMTUtGFZS pic.twitter.com/tKK7BhQlXx
— Billabong (@billabong1973) January 20, 2015 Brazilian pro surfer Adriano De Souza shared his grief on social media posting to Facebook in Portugese.
"What do you say when you lose a great friend? What do you say when you lose a person so cheerful and with such a good heart as Ricardo?," De Souza wrote.
"I have so many good memories of him it is hard to choose one. However I want to keep forever in my mind his qualities and his courage.
"Once I heard that the ones we love never die, they simply depart before us.
"You are with God my friend and upstairs you can protect us."
Heaven has another barrel guru in Ricardo Dos Santos. #RIPRicardoDosSantos, enjoy the barrels of heaven with AI. pic.twitter.com/BvYr33S83M
— Billabong (@billabong1973) January 20, 2015
