Chris Davidson was found unconscious and treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being taken to Kempsey Hospital, where he died a short time after. Source: Twitter
Former Australian surfing star Chris Davidson has died after an alleged assault outside a pub on Saturday night.
The 45-year-old was allegedly punched in the face by another man outside a pub in the New South Wales mid north coast just after 11pm, causing him to hit his head on the pavement.
Davidson was found unconscious and treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being taken to Kempsey Hospital, where he died a short time after.
Police were called to Sportsmans Way at South West Rocks and arrested a 42-year-old man who was charged with assault causing death.
He was refused bail and appeared at Port Macquarie Bail Court on Sunday.
Born in Sydney, Chris Davidson represented Australia in competitions across the world, including the 2009 Billabong Pro in Spain where he reached the final.
He famously defeated Kelly Slater in two consecutive heats in 1996 when he was 19 years old after being granted a wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.
Surfing NSW executive director Mark Windon said Davidson was “a larger-than-life character, and for his life to finish that way is really sad”.
“He was one of the most stylish surfers we’d ever produced in this country. He was an absolute prodigious talent and as flamboyant as he was in the water.”
In 2010, he was ranked number 14 globally and was described at his peak as “one of the most gifted surfers in the world” by renowned surf magazine Tracks.
“At a young age he took down Kelly Slater a couple of times down at Bells Beach,” said fellow Australian surfer and former world champion, Mark Occhilupo.
“He always really shaped up, even if he was behind the eight ball, he always manned up and got the job done … He wasn’t the guy you would like to draw in a heat.”
Occhilupo said the surfing community will come together to farewell Chris Davidson soon.
“We’ll have to get together like we always do, and will do a big paddle out for him.”
