There’s good news from the surf world.
Clyde Aikau, brother of legendary big wave surfer and North Shore lifeguard, Eddie Aikau, is on the road to recovery after undergoing open heart surgery in Las Vegas during a work trip in June.
At the time, Aikau’s family reported that after he collapsed leaving a restaurant, doctors found an aneurysm in his aortic valve, requiring emergency surgery.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Bob Hurley, surfer and founder of Hurley International, posted the announcement above yesterday and captioned it:
“Clyde Aikau on the mend… Hawaiian Strength… great doctors… excellent medical team… strong family… lotta prayers.. a loving son & the grace of God @theeddieaikau @haa_aikau“
The copy on the photo reads:
“Round 2 open heart warrior, thank you DR. PHILLPOTT!!! With you all the way Pops, going home, 35 days in a hospital bed.”
The post’s comments section was overrun with comments of love and support.
For decades, Aikau was an active member of the Hawaiian surf community and helped organize the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at WaimeaBay. He won the contest in 1986 and kept competing in it until 2016.
In June, Aikau’s daughter, Ha’a, posted news of his medical emergency in the post below.
She captioned it:
“Just a little update on my dad. He is at a local hospital in Las Vegas. He collapsed while on business here. He was taken to the hospital and They found an aneurysm in his aortic valve that was gonna burst any day and thank god they found it in time.
“He is out of surgery and not conscious yet.. He is going to have to recover here in Vegas before we go home.. Much love to everyone who messaged. my dad loves all of you very much!”
***
Don’t miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Instagram, and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We’re always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.
Whether you’re a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.