Current:Home > ContactFamily, friends mourn the death of pro surfer Mikala Jones: "Legend" -Financium
Family, friends mourn the death of pro surfer Mikala Jones: "Legend"
View
Date:2025-04-17 08:14:30
Professional surfer Mikala Jones died Sunday after a surfing accident in Indonesia, his father told The Associated Press. Friends, family and members of the surfing community took to social media to mourn the loss of Jones, who was known for shooting stunning photos and videos from inside barreling waves.
Daughter Isabella "Bella" Jones posted a touching tribute to her father on Instagram, saying "he was doing what he loved the most" before he died.
"I love you so much dad and i wish i could give you one last hug," she wrote. "This is too soon."
The post accompanied a carousel of images of Isabella and her father throughout the years: on a surfboard or just on the water.
"Thank you for teaching me so many life lessons, and always being there for me," she wrote.
In a separate Instagram post, she promised she would carry on his legacy: "Thank you for taking me out to your spots and teaching me your ways."
Jones, 44, had gone out into the ocean Sunday morning during a trip to the Mentawai Islands off the western coast of Sumatra when his surfboard fin cut his femoral artery, said his father, dentist Dr. John Jones. The femoral artery is a large blood vessel in the thigh that delivers blood to lower limbs.
Born in Kailua, Hawaii, Mikala Jones started surfing at about seven or eight years old and began competing in the 12-and-under "menehune" age group a few years later. He won two national championships as an amateur.
Later, he took on sponsors and traveled to surf spots in Tahiti, Fiji, South Africa and the Galapagos Islands.
In the 1990s, Jones began experimenting with taking photos of himself on the the water. Jones attached a camera to fabric fastener on his board and then held the camera under his chin while paddling out to waves lying on his stomach. He'd grab the camera after popping up and hold it behind himself to take pictures. After he started using a GoPro to take images, the company began sponsoring him.
"He was a humble artist. His pictures were incredible," his father said in a phone interview with the AP.
Stunning selfies of waves curling around Jones while he crouched on his board were frequently posted on his Instagram. The final photo —posted on May 28— began to gather comments from fellow surfers after the news broke that Jones had died.
Surf world champion Kelly Slater commented "Legend" with a broken heart emoji. Paul Fisher commented "RIP MY BROTHER." Surf photographer Zak Noyle commented, "Love you MJ."
Artist Robbie Crawford posted a clip of Jones on his own Instagram account and Jones' daughter commented with heart emojis.
"I always wanted you to know how special of an artist you are," Crawford wrote. "You would humbly say you just like nature and surfing but you were the greatest surf artist to me."
Jones is survived by his wife, Emma Brereton, and daughters Bella and Violet, who split their time between homes in Bali, Indonesia, and Hawaii. In addition to his father, Jones is survived by an older sister and two younger brothers. His mother, Violet Jones-Medusky, died in 2011.
- In:
- Hawaii
- Indonesia
veryGood! (7874)
Related
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Vitamix Flash Deal: Save 44% On a Blender That Functions as a 13-In-1 Machine
- The story of Monopoly and American capitalism
- A Watershed Moment: How Boston’s Charles River Went From Polluted to Pristine
- Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
- Is There Something Amiss With the Way the EPA Tracks Methane Emissions from Landfills?
- Norovirus outbreaks surging on cruise ships this year
- To all the econ papers I've loved before
- Sam Taylor
- Mung bean omelet, anyone? Sky high egg prices crack open market for alternatives
Ranking
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Lands Grabs and Other Destructive Environmental Practices in Cambodia Test the International Criminal Court
- Maui Has Begun the Process of Managed Retreat. It Wants Big Oil to Pay the Cost of Sea Level Rise.
- How much prison time could Trump face if convicted on Espionage Act charges? Recent cases shed light
- Trump's 'stop
- When Will Renewables Pass Coal? Sooner Than Anyone Thought
- A man accused of torturing women is using dating apps to look for victims, police say
- Can Arctic Animals Keep Up With Climate Change? Scientists are Trying to Find Out
Recommendation
'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
Scott Disick Spends Time With His and Kourtney Kardashian's Kids After Her Pregnancy News
The EPA Is Asking a Virgin Islands Refinery for Information on its Spattering of Neighbors With Oil
Six Takeaways About Tropical Cyclones and Hurricanes From The New IPCC Report
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Ginny & Georgia's Brianne Howey Gives Birth, Welcomes First Baby With Husband Matt Ziering
See How Gwyneth Paltrow Wished Ex Chris Martin a Happy Father’s Day
The CEO of TikTok will testify before Congress amid security concerns about the app