Aussie surfing legend Mick Fanning suffers another family tragedy

Australian surfing champion Mick Fanning has reportedly been struck with another tragedy with the death of his third brother, Edward.

The news comes after Fanning’s elder brother, Peter, died aged 43 in his sleep from a health-related condition in 2015.

Mick and Edward celebrate a world championship win.Source: News LimitedEdward Fanning’s death marks the third brother Mick Fanning has lost. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

His other brother Sean was killed in a car crash at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast in 1998 at the age of 20.

Edward’s friend, Coolangatta bodyboarder Stevie Maher, shared the sad news on Facebook on Tuesday.

“Firstly I want to send my condolences to the Fanning family … mum Liz, dad John, sister Rachel and brother Mick,” he wrote on Facebook.

“My heart is broken to hear the passing of my best mate. I enjoyed and had so many amazing times with you Eddie.

“You were in my wedding party, had so many epic times together in Indo and we were just best mates.

“I’m goin’ to miss you Eddie and now you rest in peace.”

It’s understood Edward was living and working in Madagascar at a surf tour camp.

A family photo from Mick Fanning’s book Surf For Your Life. "Family photo in front of our house in Penrith. Rachel is holding me, while Sean, Edward and Peter are nicely lined up in front of Mum". Picture: Mark EvansSource: News LimitedMick Fanning is a three time world surfing champion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian ShawSource: NCA NewsWire

Following the death of his brother, Peter, in 2015, Mick shared the news on social media, calling his brother a “hero” of his.

“Like all my big brothers, Peter will always be a hero to me,” he shared on social media.

“I have so many great memories of the good times we have all spent together and they will be with me forever.

“We recently caught up and he told me how proud he was of me and how much he loves watching me compete.

“Today was one of the most challenging days of my life but I knew I could find the strength to take part in the final event of the season because that’s what Pete would want.

“Tell the special people in your life you love them and give them a hug.”

Mick Fanning called his brother Peter a “hero” as he shared the news of his death in 2015. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian ShawSource: NCA NewsWire

Appearing on 60 Minutes in 2015, Mick said it was “such a down year”.

“I went through a divorce, had the shark incident and then at the end of it all I lost my brother. I was just totally empty at the end of it. I was done.”

Mick said he struggled to leave the house and had “never felt that empty before”.

“That was the one that just floored me. I was like ‘what else? What else can be taken in a year?’ At the end of 2015, I just hit rock bottom,” he said.