Mick Fanning woke to news this morning that his oldest brother, Peter Fanning, had passed away suddenly on the eve of the Billabong Pipe Masters.
Peter is the second brother Mick has lost. Tragically Mick lost his older brother Sean, in a car accident in 1998 when Mick was 17.
When Mick narrowly escaped a shark attack in J-Bay earlier in the year, it was thought that the Fanning family had surely confronted enough hardship for one lifetime. The news today casts a dark shadow over what was to be an electrifying showdown at surfing’s most exalted of contests.
Josh Kerr grew up with Mick in Coolangatta and heard the news before his round 3 heat this morning.
“I actually just heard the news before I paddled out for my heat and I couldn’t believe it. I grew up in the same town as Mick, and I know *Ed … it’s just devastating, it’s unbelievable with the year he’s had.”
Kerrzy believed that Mick’s mental toughness would see him through the event.
“Mick’s just so strong minded that if anyone is going to get through it it’s him. Definitely my heart goes out to him and his family. It’s just tragic news for him and I look forward to giving him a hug when I see him,” said an emotional Josh Kerr.
Tracks asked Rip Curl team manager, Ryan Fletcher for comment, who said, “We don’t have a statement but the WSL is releasing one shortly.”
Many around the contest area are still in disbelief after what has been an emotionally charged year for Mick. He managed to keep his world title hopes alive after defeating Jamie O’Brien to progress into the next round. Meanwhile, Mason Ho eliminated Filipe Toledo to leave only Adriano de Souza and Gabriel Medina in contention for a world title. We are yet to see whether the sad news will propel Mick on to victory or bring him down. Whatever the result, our thoughts are with Mick and his family.
*Peter Fanning passed away overnight.
