Ricardo dos Santos shot three times at his home on Guarda do Embaú beach, near Florianopolis

The global surfing community has reacted with shock following the fatal shooting of a promising young professional surfer outside his home in Brazil.

Ricardo dos Santos, 24, died in hospital on Tuesday, a day after being shot three times following an altercation with a military policeman at Guarda do Embau beach, near the southern city of Florianopolis. He underwent four operations to repair a perforated lung and kidney but died of his injuries.

The circumstances of the shooting are disputed, but the Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported that the surfer, who was known as “Ricardinho” in his native country, was shot after approaching two men leaning on a car outside his home and asking them not to take drugs in public. According to witnesses, the men drew a weapon from the car and shot Dos Santos three times in the chest and abdomen, the paper said.

A military policeman, Luiz Paulo Mota Brentano, was arrested after the shooting along with his 17-year-old brother, who was later released. According to O Globo, Brentano told officers he had acted in self-defence after being threatened by the surfer.

“Our Ricardo is gone,” his family said shortly after he died. “He lived so much in his 24 years. It is a very hard time for us right now. We believe that there are better barrels where Ricardo is going and that he will be there getting barrels with Andy Irons [an American professional who died in 2010].

“We want to thank everyone for their support. Thank you all for the opportunities in his life and career. Ricardo was very grateful for everything and for everyone.”

Gabriel Medina, the Brazilian world surfing champion and a close friend of dos Santos, said on Instagram: “Ricardinho, you didn’t deserve this! Never! Why does this happen to good people? I don’t understand.”

He said the surfer, who was known for his fearless barrel-riding skills and won the coveted Andy Irons award for most committed performance at the Billabong Pro Tahiti event in 2012, was a “good person, always helping others, smiling from ear to ear every day, an example to others”.

Kelly Slater, the American 11-times world champion, said he had been “horrified” to see a floating memorial to the surfer, who he called “truly one of the great barrel riders of his short time”, noting that in 2012-13 Dos Santos had won Wave of the Winter “for a crazy barrel at Pipeline ... was a regular standout in any barreling or heavy conditions around the world.”

“This was truly a senseless loss of life … Our small community has lost another way too soon.”

Kelly Slater

Californian Brett Simpson, twice winner of the US Open of Surfing, said on Twitter: “We will always remember him... So fearless in the water in heavy waves and so kind and gentle on land! Life is so precious!”

brett simpson (@BrettSimpo) Will always remember him... So fearless in the water in heavy waves and so kind and gentle on land! Life is so so precious!

The South African former professional Travis Logie, Hawaiian Jamie O’Brien and Puerto Rican Brian Toth also posted condolences on social media. “A brother from another motherland,” said Toth. “May you rest in peace brother! You will never be forgotten.”

Billabong issued a statement remembering “a team rider and dear friend, and an inspiration to all who knew him.

“More importantly, Ricardo was a loving brother, son, friend, and grandson. When not traveling the globe in search of giant barrels, Ricardo spent time at home helping around the house and surfing with local groms [kids]. He was also a proud Brazilian who supported his local community. His stoke for his homeland could be felt even as he traveled the globe, telling stories of his time at home with close friends.

“While we mourn this tragedy, we must remember to celebrate and honor Ricardo’s incredible life, and hope it influences the next generation to live a life full of hard work, enthusiasm, and generosity.”

According to the surfing magazine Stabmag, Dos Santos had fought to clean up his local streets in the surf community of Guarda do Embau, saying its relaxed, hippie reputation was being threatened by a boom in the presence of violent street thugs:

“Today it seems that this piece of “heaven” is losing its charm, it seems that people no longer value the fact that they are in a beautiful and pure place … It is with an immense feeling of sadness that I write this, but Guarda is being destroyed.”

The surfer’s family initially said they planned to cremate his body and scatter his ashes at his local beach at Guarda do Embau. But O Globo reported that after difficulties with the cremation they had decided to bury him on Wednesday.

Following a wake late on Tuesday night, friends and family members had processed to the beach to leave posters, photographs and candles, the paper said, while many local shops and bars displayed black flags, with a number closing in mourning until Thursday.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ricardo dos Santos receiving the 2012 Andy Irons award



















