Legend thanks brother for introduction to surfing
Mick Fanning has paid tribute to his older brother Edward who has tragically died in Madagascar.
It is Fanning’s third brother to die, after his elder brother Pete died in his sleep in 2015 when he was 43.
His other brother, Sean, was killed in a car crash in Coolangatta in 1998 at the age of 20.
Taking to Instagram, Fanning thanked Edward for introducing him to surfing and said his brother found it hard to “find his happy place”.
“Love you my brother. You taught me so much over the years about everything that life could deal up,” Fanning wrote.
“The good and the bad you were my teacher.”
Fanning said that without Edward he was not sure what “the world would have made of me”, adding that his brother had the “biggest heart” and was “too loyal for his own good”. “I know at times you found it hard to find your happy place,” Fanning wrote.
“It warms my heart to know you found it these last few years.
“To hear the excitement in your voice each time we talked filled me with hope.”
Fanning said his brother was a “larrikin” who would “throw a Shaka in every photo” and would “scream yeeeeew at the top of his lungs”.
He also thanked Edward’s friends and family in Madagascar who “showed him happiness is real”.
He signed off “much love”. It’s understood Edward was living and working in Madagascar at a surf tour camp.
News of his death was revealed on Tuesday when his friend Stevie Maher shared the update on Facebook.
“Firstly I want to send my condolences to the Fanning family … mum Liz, dad John, sister Rachel and brother Mick,” Mr Maher wrote on Facebook.
“My heart is broken to hear the passing of my best mate. I enjoyed and had so many amazing times with you Eddie.
“You were in my wedding party, had so many epic times together in Indo and we were just best mates.
“I’m goin’ to miss you Eddie and now you rest in peace.”