Former junior world champion surfer Kalani David died at the age of 24 over the weekend after having a seizure in the ocean while practicing in Costa Rica.
The surfer, who had a heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which causes seizures, died Saturday morning in Playa Hermosa, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, the Judicial Investigation Agency said. David underwent heart surgery for the condition six years ago.
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“He was surfing when he apparently suffered some kind of epileptic seizure and drowned,” the agency told the Associated Press. “The death is still under investigation.”
Despite the heart condition, David primarily competed in both surfing and skateboarding, representing the United States. His condition forced him to pause his career on several occasions. Despite that, he won the Junior World Surfing Championship in Panama in 2012 in the under 16 category.
“If it was life or death and I had to choose skating or surfing, I’d choose death,” David told Stab magazine in 2016.
Various athletes from both worlds mourned David, including 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater.
“Kalani was one of the most talented surfers-skaters in the world,” Slater said, according to the Associated Press. “My condolences to the great family and friends that Kalani had on every beach around the world.”
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David’s younger brother Keoni also reacted to the news in a story post on Instagram.
“You are the best brother I could ever ask for. I will miss you Kalani,” he said, according to the New York Post.
