Kurt Van Dyke, famous surfer californiawho was tragically suffocated and stabbed to death following an apparent burglary at his residence in Costa Rica.
Dyke, 66, was found dead with a sheet covering his head, but his girlfriend Arroyo, 31, survived the attack.
In a statement, Costa Rica The Judicial Investigation Service confirmed that Van Dyke’s girlfriend was not seriously injured.
The distressing incident occurred at around 10:50 a.m. on Saturday in the old port of Talamanca, a popular tourist destination. The area is generally considered safe and the incident caused significant distress within the community.
Kurt Van Dyke dies in Costa Rica: Here’s what Arroyo says
The surfer was taking a shower when two armed assailants broke into the apartment and held the couple at gunpoint.
Arroyo reported that the intruder restrained her hands and feet, assaulted her, and ultimately murdered her boyfriend.
The entire incident lasted only a few minutes before the thieves escaped with several belongings, including a 2013 Hyundai Elantra.
Dyke’s body was found under his bed with a bloody knife beside him.
Kurt Van Dyke’s cause of death revealed?
Currently, his body has been sent to the morgue to accurately determine the cause of death.
“He was suffocated and had multiple stab wounds,” said Carlos Valverde, a spokesman for Costa Rica’s judicial investigative agency.
His brother, Peter Van Dyke, told the outlet san francisco Chronicle: “My brother was a very kind, giving man 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.”
Kurt van Dyke background
Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Van Dyke has gained recognition in the surfing community for his competition participation and role in promoting the sport in the Caribbean.
After living in the Caribbean for many years, he won the title of “King” among surfers with his excellent skills in riding huge waves.
His father, Gene Van Dyke, was a pioneer of the sport in Northern California, while his mother, Betty, was instrumental in paving the way for female surfers in the 1950s and 1960s.
