This time yesterday we awoke to news that Brazilian surfer Ricardo Dos Santos was in a critical condition after being shot three times at his local beach Praia da Guarda do Embau. This morning we awake to the worst possible news: Dos Santos has passed away. His body unable to respond despite three attempts at surgery, 40 litres of blood, and being placed in an induced coma.

Dos Santos' assailants were an off duty policeman, who pulled the trigger, and his 17-year old brother. Both are now in custody. Reports are still conflicting as to why the shooting occurred (see original report), yet the reality is a young man is now dead. Senseless is the only description for it.

More than any other surfer, Dos Santos' helped shake the stereotype of Brazilians as small wave surfers. In 2012 Dos Santos won the Billabong Pro Tahiti Trials before beating Jordy Smith, Taj Burrow and Kelly Slater in the main event, which earned him the Andy Irons Award for Most Committed Performance. He's been a threat in Tahiti each year since. He also garnered huge respect from the North Shore surfing community for his surfing in Hawaii.

Swellnet's condolences go out to the friends and family of Ricardo Dos Santos, and also to the entire Brazilian surfing community. May something good somehow come from this senseless tragedy.