Surf icon Michael Peterson dies
%20October%202011_fct1024x630x21_t460.jpg "Michael Peterson, in a scene from the movie Searching for Michael Peterson, has died aged 59.")
SURFING legend Michael Peterson died of a heart attack at home this morning, aged 59.
My Daily News surf reporter Andrew McKinnon said Mr Peterson, who lived in Tweed Heads South, was talking to his mother Joan when he died at 7am.
"He was one of the greats," Mr McKinnon said.
"He won three Bells Beach events in a row from 1973 to 1975, two Australian titles and in 1974 won every event he competed in."
MP, as he became famously known, was both a close friend and adversary of Mr McKinnon.
The pair both went to Miami High School and competed in the infamous 1972 Sand Diego world titles.
Mr McKinnon will remember MP as "one of the greatest surfers ever and a great friend."
"I'll remember him as a happy-go-lucky, 'go for it' kind of guy.
"There was so much energy in his surfing, you couldn't help but be inspired."
