LIHU‘E — As the waves of shock and sadness continue to reach the shores of Kaua‘i, the cause of death in the case of Andy Irons is likely to remain unanswered for some time following Wednesday’s autopsy, which was performed
LIHU‘E — As the waves of shock and sadness continue to reach the shores of Kaua‘i, the cause of death in the case of Andy Irons is likely to remain unanswered for some time following Wednesday’s autopsy, which was performed in Fort Worth, Texas.
In a release from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, the department said that Irons had been positively identified and a complete postmortem examination “was essentially negative for trauma and foul play is not suspected.”
It also said that both the cause and manner of death are pending completion of postmortem laboratory studies, which the Associated Press reported could take weeks to produce results.
A police report from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Police indicated that there was no sign of forced entry in Irons’ room at the Grand Hyatt airport hotel, when officers arrived on the scene, Tuesday morning.
The police report also indicated that there were two bottles of prescription drugs in the room. A bottle of Alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, an anxiety medication, was located on the main table of the bedroom. A bottle of Ambien, a sleep aid typically used to treat insomnia, was found on the bed side dresser table. Both bottles were dated Oct. 26, 2010.
Legally named Phillip Andrew Irons, Andy had been suffering from dengue fever, prompting his withdrawal from the 2010 Rip Curl Pro Search in Puerto Rico. He was traveling back to Kaua‘i but fell ill while in Dallas and checked into a hotel after being unable to board his desired flight out of Texas.
Hotel staff discovered Irons in his room while performing a welfare check after he failed to answer a wake-up call. He was found in his bed with the sheets, bed covers and pillows all appearing normal.
Irons arrived in Dallas at 6:30 a.m. Central time, Monday morning, having flown in from Miami on American Airlines flight 495.
He checked into the airport hotel at 8:47 a.m. Monday, with the key to his room being used for the final time minutes later at 8:59 a.m.
Just over 24 hours later, hotel staff entered room 324 and then contacted police.
Andy’s room also contained a few of his personal effects, including a black backpack, two shirts, pants, socks and shoes, a grey jacket, an iPod, empty soft drink cans and an empty Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup package.
Continued remembrance
Back on Kaua‘i, most conversations continued to revolve around the fallen local hero.
In his hometown of Hanalei, surf shop employees said no official memorial plans had been determined, though it seemed likely that this weekend will be the opportune time to commemorate Irons properly.
Stories about watching Andy surf the various Kaua‘i breaks were heard throughout the island.
Greg Holzman, a Kekaha commercial fisherman who has been surfing and diving on the Westside for about 30 years said in an e-mail that like everyone else from shore or in the lineup, he was able to recognize Irons by his unique surfing style.
“I did not know Andy well except from his surfing on the Westside at Mana when the winds were north and he came down to surf the Range (the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, near Kekaha and Mana),” Holzman said. “His lines were the fastest and cleanest I have ever seen ridden at that break in 30 years of surfing there.”
He said Andy’s talent alone made it evident when he was out in the water.
“You would not have to recognize his board or his face in the lineup, only see his style and fluid turns to know who it was riding the wave,” Holzman said. “No one ever did the things he did out there and I will miss watching him push the limits of what is possible on a surfboard on Kaua‘i. We will all miss him.”
Irons will be remembered as one of the few, if not the only natural rival to Kelly Slater, who is currently in line to win his 10th Association of Surfing Professionals world championship this year.
The two had intense battles throughout much of the decade, with Andy winning the world championship three straight times (2002-2004), then finishing second in back-to-back years as Slater won in 2005-2006.
Though the two enjoyed a healthy rivalry that was less than friendly in its early stages, they grew to become more than just competitors.
The California nine-time champion released a statement on Wednesday:
“Andy was an absolutely gifted individual. I’m lucky to have known him and had the times we had together. I feel blessed that we worked through the differences we had and I was able to learn what I’m made of because of Andy. We enjoyed many quiet times together with our girls in the last year and I got to know a happy, funny, innocent kid who was happy to live every second with the people he loved. I’m so sad.
“My thoughts are with Bruce and Lyndie and their parents and all of his many friends around the world. It’s a huge and far too premature loss for all of us. He was the most intense competitor I’ve ever known and one of the most sensitive people. He had so much life left in him and it hurts to think about. We look forward to his memory living on with our memories of him and his child on the way. There are a lot of uncles awaiting his arrival.
“I really miss Andy. He had a really good heart. With love, Kelly”
Your memories
TGI thanks you for your input and please continue to send your stories, photos or comments about Andy to dsimon@thegardenisland.com.
The Garden Island reporter Paul Curtis contributed to this report.
