Tributes are flowing for Sydney surfing icon Bruno Bersot who has unexpectedly died.
Bersot, a gun surfer from Brazil who had set up home with his wife and two sons (Lucas and Mateus) in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, died from a blood clot in his heart after thinking he had a back issue.
A family friend said Bruno had been in some discomfort on the weekend from what “initially seemed like a minor back injury”.
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“However, unbeknownst to anyone, it was an underlying blood clot in his heart that tragically led to a sudden and severe stroke,” the friend, Kalani Silvester, wrote on the family’s gofundme page.
Silvester said Bruno was vibrant and health conscious but, “despite the exhaustive efforts of the medical team, the blood clot swiftly migrated to his brain”.
They said Bersot was not only a beloved husband, father, brother, and son, but also “a pillar of strength and love within (his family’s) lives”.
“Their hearts are filled with profound shock and disbelief as they grapple with the incomprehensible reality of life without Bruno’s presence,” Silvester said.
Bersot’s son Mateus was obviously shattered by his father’s death.
“Rest in peace to my superhero ❤️,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Love you so much, Dad. No words explain how I feel and how much I miss you. You are my best friend and I can’t thank you enough for teaching me everything I know in the surf and outside of the surf.
“I’ll love you forever ❤️🙏🏾 today there is a party in heaven. Fly high Papi 🕊️.”
And Lucas said he was “speechless”.
“He fought long and hard for everyone that he loved,” Lucas said
“I don’t even know what to write about because it still doesn’t seem real that someone so loved by all has passed away. I’ve lost the energy to cry. I’m truly speechless.
“Dad, I love you so much. There won’t be one single second of my life that I won’t be thinking about you.
“I’m gonna miss the time we shared in the water and our everyday activities. I know you would want us to be strong and continue with our lives and it’s gonna be hard but we will continue to make you proud. You will forever be in our hearts.
“I really wish today wasn’t gonna be the last time I got to hug you but you will forever be by my side. I know you’re gonna be up in the heavens surfing the best waves having the best time with your mum and dad. Heaven gained a beautiful angel today.”
Bruno was said to be “deeply dedicated to his sons and the ocean”, and his love for surfing extended to ”communities” in Indonesia and Hawaii.
Retail company My Brothers Keeper said on their Facebook page the news was “absolutely devastating”.
“We are sending love to all our BRAzilian Bra Boy Family and to the Bersot family. Bruno was My Brothers Keeper in action. Devastated for you all,” the account said.
The gofundme page had raised over $42,000 at the time of writing.