Surfing icon Michael Peterson has passed away after reportedly suffering a heart attack March 29 at his home in Australia. He was 59 years old.

“We are saddened to announce that Michael passed away this morning,” told Peterson’s mother Joan Watt on his Facebook fan page. “He will be greatly missed. We thank you for your support and prayers.”

The outpouring of love for the enigmatic 1970s surf star was immediate, and in a testament to how profound the man’s impact truly was on the sport of surfing, the news reverberated around the surf world nearly instantaneously across social media channels. Over the years, Peterson’s surfing has inspired everybody from Tom Curren to Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson.

“I’m so glad Rabbit [Bartholomew] and I went out to see MP at his home only four weeks ago to talk some story,” told 1976 world champion Peter Townend, who grew up under the shadow of Peterson on Australia’s Gold Coast. “Save some waves in Heaven for us MP.”

World-renowned underwater cinematographer Mike Prickett — known for his spellbinding work on such award-winning documentaries as Riding Giants and Step Into Liquid — is currently suffering from severe decompression sickness, aka “the bends” or “divers disease”, while shooting a commercial video in Rangiora, Tahiti last Wednesday.

Sources say the 47-year-old Hawaiian was sharing air with another diver, drained the tank, and had no choice but go straight to the surface without decompressing. At press time, Mike was undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a Papeete hospital.

“I was doing an underwater shoot for wetsuits and dive gear,” Prickett told Honolulu-based KITV News. “I saw another diver sinking and panicking. I dove down to 220 feet to save him, but he used up all my air. I’m glad I was able to rescue him and he could walk away from the incident. I want to thank my family and friends for their prayers.”
Unfortunately, the bends left Prickett paralyzed from the chest down. And though he has since regained some sensation in his legs, his condition is still serious. Surfline received an update from Tahiti-based photographer and Teahupo’o fixture Tim McKenna after he had returned from the hospital.
“Mike still has still has to do decompression chamber sessions until next Saturday,” reported Tim. “Forty-eight hours after the last session he can fly back to see a specialist, either in Australia or San Diego. He’s in pain and his spirits are pretty low. He still can’t feel his lower body.”

The best news in all this may actually come from Prickett’s past: An automobile accident back in 1984 shattered Mike’s right leg in 36 places and his left leg in seven. Doctors feared he’d never walk again and suggested swimming as physical therapy. All that rehab ultimately led to an interest in underwater cinematography, which led to a stellar career, which led to numerous awards including “Best Cinematography” at the Sundance Film Festival. In other words, this is a very empowered, industrious man we’re talking about here.

Details on a fundraiser to benefit his medical expenses will be announced soon. In the meantime, please pray for Mike and his wife Marya during this very troubling time.

The final day of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover culminated today with perennial ASP World Title threat Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, and four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, taking the respective wins in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the primary venue of Snapper Rocks.

The opening stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast enjoyed sunny weather, light winds and a capacity crowd for the final day of competition, with the world’s best surfers putting on a spectacular display of high-performance surfing.

Burrow defeated dangerous South American Adriano De Souza (BRA), 25, in a Final that came down to the wire. De Souza caught a wave in the dying minutes and launched into a massive air-reverse, requiring a 7.87 out of a possible 10 to take the lead. The judges deliberated until after the siren sounded and when it was announced that De Souza came a mere 0.27 short, Burrow was chaired up the beach and declared the 2012 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast champion.