Top Brazilian pro-surfer shot dead by police officer outside his house

Brazilian professional surfer Ricardo dos Santos has died after being gunned down by a police officer outside his home. The 24-year-old was shot on Monday near the city of Florianopolis after he confronted an off-duty policeman and his brother. He was hit three times in the abdomen. Police officer Luis Brentano, 25, is under arrest on suspicion of murder but has not yet been charged. He claims he acted in self defence when dos Santos threatened him with a knife and tried to attack him.

An incredible human being who had a whole life ahead of him.

Tribute from fellow surfer Carlos Burle

Police investigator Marcelo Arruda told Brazilian news site GL Globo that no knife was found at the scene. Dos Santos was flown to hospital by helicopter but died on Tuesday, despite four operations to save his life. Surfer magazine paid tribute, calling him a “fearless, world-class tuberider”. The high point of his career was a surprise win at the 2012 Billabong Pro Tahiti Trials, beating an experienced field including surf legend Kelly Slater. The same year he also won the Surfline Wave of the Winter award for riding an “incredibly deep, blue, massive Pipeline tube”.

He represented all of us very well and was very well recognised for his hard work and also was a very good person.

Gabriel Medina, Brazil’s first surfing world champion

Sports dos santos surfer