Tragedy for Mick Fanning as his brother Edward dies – with the surfing legend losing his third sibling in the last 25 years

Australian surfing legend Mick Fanning is reportedly suffering yet another family tragedy after his brother Edward died.

The shocking news follows the death of Mick’s older brother Peter in 2015 and another brother, Sean Fanning, who died in a car accident in Coolangatta in 1998.

It is believed that Ed Fanning, in his 40s, lived and worked at a surf camp in Madagascar.

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.

The shocking news follows the deaths of Mick’s older brother Peter in 2015 and Sean Fanning who died in a car crash in Coolangatta in 1998 (Fanning is pictured at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in 2022)

Fanning famously survived a shark attack while competing in the 2015 JBay Open in South Africa (pictured)

‘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 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.

“2015 was such a bad year,” Fanning said. ‘I went through a divorce, had a shark incident and at the end of it I lost my brother (with an enlarged heart).

‘At the end I was just completely empty. I was done.’