Legendary skateboarder Jay Adams has died aged 53 from an apparent heart attack.

To skateboarding aficionados, Adams was known as the "original seed," one of the most influential skaters in history. He was one of the original members of the Zephyr Competition Team, otherwise known as Z-Boys.

Dead at 53: skateboarding legend Jay Adams, left. Credit:Jason Kempin/Getty Images

The group was immortalised in the 2001 documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and the 2005 biopic Lords of Dogtown, which starred Heath Ledger and Emile Hirsch.

The news of his death was confirmed by Stacy Peralta, another member of the Z-Boys.