Mick Fanning breaks his silence following his brother Edward’s sudden death in Madagascar

Mick Fanning has sent a heartfelt tribute to his older brother, Edward, after his death.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Edward had died in Madagascar and is providing support to the Fanning family.

The shocking news follows the death of Mick’s older brother Peter in 2015 and another brother, Sean, who dies in a car crash in Coolangatta in 1998, when the former world champion was just 17.

And surfing legend Mick took to Instagram on Tuesday night to pay his respects to his older brother, who first introduced him to surfing.

“Ed, I love you, my brother,” he began. “You have taught me so much over the years about all that life has to offer. The good and the bad, you were my teacher. You introduced us all to surfing, the fun and freedom of riding a wave.

‘The meaning of going to the ends of the earth to find waves to following a passion in the belief that surfing could be the ultimate job. As the years passed, you fell in and out of the ocean, but your pure talent always shone through.

“That’s where you ended up in teaching kids the fun of riding a wave. Without you, I’m not sure what the world would have made of me, so thank you.

“Ed, you had the biggest heart and were too loyal for your own good. Always standing up for the underdog and caring for those who needed help. You gave everyone everything you had, and if you didn’t have it, you would still give it to them.

“You made your friends feel like superheroes and you gave so many people the funniest memories that will last a lifetime.

I know you’ve had a hard time finding your happy place at times. It warms my heart to know that you have found it over the years. Every time we spoke, hearing the excitement in your voice filled me with hope.

“I wish you could accept all the love people would give you. You weren’t perfect, but no one wanted you to be. We just loved Ed. The Larrikin who threw a Shaka in every photo and screamed at the top of his lungs.

“As you dance down that last road into that eternal sunset, know that we all love you, buddy. YEEEEEEEEWWW HAHA.

Ed Fanning (pictured), in his forties, lived and worked at a surf camp in Madagascar

Mick credited his older brother with introducing him to surfing as a child

‘Thank you to all the family and friends who have shown us love and supported us during this difficult time. And thanks to Ed’s family and friends in Madagascar, who showed him that happiness is real. Lots of love’.

Edward’s best friend, Coolangatta bodyboarder Stevie Maher, took to Facebook to relay the devastating news.

“First, I would like to express my condolences to the Fanning family… mother Liz, father John, sister Rachel and brother Mick,” Maher wrote.

‘My heart is broken to hear of the passing of my best friend. I enjoyed it and had so many great times with you, Eddie.

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

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

In July 2015, three-time world champion Fanning was famously attacked by a shark at Jefferys Bay, South Africa, while competing in the J-Bay Open surfing competition.

The experience, which was watched live on TV by thousands of shocked spectators, left Fanning with post-traumatic stress disorder and recurring nightmares in the years that followed.

In December that year, Fanning narrowly missed out on his fourth world title when he competed in the final competition of the season in Hawaii, just hours after the death of his brother Peter, with their mother Elizabeth Osborne saying the coroner found he had died as due to an enlarged heart.

The 42-year-old surfed in Hawaii just hours after learning his brother Peter had died from an enlarged heart in December 2015

Fanning left interviewer and former pro surfer Rosy Hodge in tears as he described his state of mind during the competition.

“I walk down and every time I paddle out, I’m almost in tears,” he said, his voice shaking.

‘Even in the water, just going through waves of emotions.

‘A friend once told me that we can do anything. You just have to do your best and stay true to yourself and things will happen.”

‘Like all my big brothers, Peter will always be a hero to me. I have so many wonderful memories of the good times we all spent together and they will be with me forever,” Fanning wrote to his 705,000 Instagram followers after the tragedy.

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

“I knew I could find the strength to compete in the last event of the season because that’s what Pete would want.”