Chris Davidson, a former professional surfer, died on Sunday after being punched outside a bar north of Sydney. He was 45.
According to The Guardian, police responded to a report that a man was punched in the face and hit his head on the pavement outside Sportsman’s Way pub in New South Wales, Australia, just after 11 p.m. Saturday.
When police arrived, they discovered Davidson unconscious. According to The Guardian and the BBC, he was treated at the scene before being transported to Kempsey District Hospital, where he died.
According to The Guardian, police arrested a 42-year-old man on Sunday in South West Rocks, New South Wales, and charged him with assault causing death. He was denied bail in court on Sunday.
Surfing Australia, the non-profit organization that oversees surfing in Australia, announced Davidson’s death on Facebook on Sunday.
“Surfing Australia and the surfing community are mourning the loss of former WSL Championship Tour surfer Chris Davidson, who died at Kempsey Hospital on Saturday evening,” the organization wrote. “Davo was an incredibly talented surfer and a true individual in our sport and community. At this time, our thoughts are with his two children, friends, and family.”
In 2010, Surf Europe Magazine described Davidson as “one of the spoiled children of the surf industry” as he rose through the ranks of surfing in the late 1990s. According to the BBC, Davidson rose to prominence in 1996 when he defeated legendary surfer Kelly Slater as a 19-year-old wild card entry into the Rip Curl Pro competition in Bells Beach, Australia.
According to Australia’s 7News news network, Slater, 50, posted a tribute to Davidson on his Instagram Stories on Sunday.
“Yesterday, another soldier was killed. #RIPChrisDavo, “According to a screenshot obtained by 7News, Slater wrote in the story. “I’ve had many good fights with this guy. One of the most naturally gifted surfers I’ve ever met.”
Davidson competed on the World Surf League tour in 2010 and 2011 and had a notable loss to Slater in Portugal in 2010, where Davidson tied for third place, according to The Guardian. According to the surfing publication Tracks Magazine, Davidson was ranked as high as 14th in the world in 2010, though he struggled with consistency and had “a string of drunk driving offenses” during his career.
While police have not released any additional information about the incident that led to Davidson’s death, the man arrested on Sunday will appear in court in November, according to the BBC, which cited local media.
