Brazilian surfing icon Marcio Freire passed away on Thursday while surfing large waves off the coast of Portugal’s central region, according to the regional marine authorities.
As a member of the Mad Dogs, a group of Brazilian surfers lauded in a 2016 documentary for defeating Jaws, a formidable surf break in Hawaii, Freire, 47, was best known to surfing aficionados around the world.
Cause of death
According to local authorities, a water mishap at Praia do Norte, a beach in Nazare noted for its surfing conditions, was reported at 4:15 on Thursday. A 47-year-old Brazilian man, later identified as Freire, died “after falling while practicing surfing in Praia do Norte,” according to a statement from Portugal’s National Maritime Authority. He crashed while practicing tow-in surfing, according to Reuters. Surfers can catch faster-moving waves with this approach better than if they were paddling by hand since it makes use of artificial aid, such as a watercraft.
The maritime agency reported that when first responders brought Freire back to land, they discovered him in cardiorespiratory arrest; nonetheless, they were unable to save the surfer.
