American surfer Kurt Van Dyke was found dead in an apparent robbery in his apartment in the Caribbean coastal town of Cahuita, Costa Rica on Saturday. He is 66 years old.
The incident was reported around 10:50 a.m., when authorities received a call that a man had been found dead in a room, according to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Agency (OIJ).
advertise
Law enforcement went to the location in the city of Talamanca, about 105 miles east of the capital San Jose, and confirmed the death, according to OIJ spokesman Carlos Valverde.
Valverde said Van Dyke and a woman were in the apartment when they were allegedly approached by two armed men. According to preliminary reports, the suspects threatened them with a gun and held them for several minutes while they stole valuables.
Authorities said Van Dyke died at the scene. “He was suffocated and suffered multiple stab wounds,” an OIJ spokesman said. The woman traveling with him suffered minor injuries that were not life-threatening.
The body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Morgue to determine the exact cause of death. The OIJ said the case remains under investigation to clarify the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible.
advertise
famous surfing family
Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Van Dyke is recognized by the international surfing community for his competition participation and influence in promoting the sport in the Caribbean.
He is also a member of a famous California surfing family.
A 2021 obituary for his mother, Betty Van Dyke, said she was part of a pioneering group of early female surfers and her first husband, Gene Van Dyke, was a noted Northern California surfer, according to the Associated Press.
Kurt’s brother, Peter Van Dyke, told the San Francisco Chronicle via text message: “My brother was a very kind and helpful person who would help almost anyone. Kurt would never hurt anyone and was always there when you needed him. Everyone he met knew that about him.”
advertise
Raw Surf, a global media platform dedicated to sharing surf culture and stories around the world, expressed condolences over this tragedy. “Our hearts go out to Kurt’s family and the Costa Rican surf community for this unimaginable loss,” a post on their Instagram account read.
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com