Tributes have been paid to talented surfer and skateboarder Kalani David, who tragically died after suffering a seizure at the age of 24.
The Inertia reported that David had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which affects between one and three out of every 1,000 people globally. Those people affected can have a very fast heartbeat, something referred to as tachycardia.
David, from Hawaii, has competed across the world in surfing and skateboarding events. At the age of 14 has was considered a “a seasoned veteran,” as stated on his X-Games biography. As a youngster he won gold at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Panama and was admired for his talent.
Previously David had posted on Instagram about the syndrome, he said: "With these seizures I keep having my neurologist said no driving and no surfing until I stop having them. I mean I could surf but, if I was to have one and don’t get saved in time I’ll either die or become a vegetable because I don’t have enough air to my brain.
"I keep getting lucky, I had a seizure driving and the other in the water within a couple months.
"The past couple years been having seizures sleeping and just angels watching over me cause I don't know how I keep getting so lucky and living through it all.
"I been putting these health issues to the side because I couldn’t believe it, but doing that has made it worse. My life has completely changed and it’s not rejection, it’s redirection."
People from across the world have been paying their tributes to the talented surfer and skateboarder. Surfer Kelly Slater who won the World Surf League champion a record 11 times highlighted his talent. He wrote in an Instagram story that: “Kalani was one of the most talented surfer/skater on Earth, constantly pushing the limits every time he was on his feet.
"Condolences to the huge community of friends Kalani had coast to coast and across the globe."
