Over a hundred surfers took part in the AI paddle
out in PR.More than 100 of the world's top surfers took part in a traditional paddle out ceremony Wednesday in Puerto Rico, joining hands in a large, floating ring, to remember Andy Irons, a three-time world champion who died on Tuesday.

Irons, 32, was found dead in his hotel room Tuesday at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, where he had flown after pulling out of a surfing contest in Puerto Rico.

The event, the Rip Curl Pro Search, is on hold until Friday.

In a statement, the Irons family reported Andy had contracted dengue fever. While the official cause of death has not been determined, the Tarrant County medical examiner's office reported that the painkiller methadone and the sedative zolpidem were found in his hotel room.

An autopsy was performed Wednesday, and the medical examiner's office told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser a toxicology test could take 60-90 days to complete.

"He was the most intense competitor I've ever known," rival surfer Kelly Slater said of Irons, a native of the Hawaiian island Kauai who achieved hero status by combining power and style while surfing some the world's most dangerous waves. Irons was world champion from 2002-2004 and had an infamous rivalry with Slater.

"I'm lucky to have known him and had the times we had together," said Slater.

"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. It's a huge and far too premature loss for all of us."

As seen in USA Today