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DEATH ON THE NORTH SHORE
Tahitian surfer Malik Joyeux drowns at Pipeline
Friday, December 2nd started off as a beautiful day on the North Shore; sunny, light winds, building six- to eight-foot swell, the best surfers in the world out amongst the best waves in the world. But tragedy struck at 10:30am when 25-year-old Tahitian charger Malik Joyeux drowned after taking off late on an eight-foot wave at Pipeline.
According to witnesses, he scratched into it, made the drop on his tiptoes, recovered at the bottom, and attempted to pull up under the lip but didn't make it. The lip landed square on him and sent him to the bottom. He was wearing a leash, but the board was broken and blasted out into the whitewater.
Two bigger set waves washed through after that one, and immediately after the second one cleared, photographers and surfers started looking for his body. "About half the lineup cleared out," Greg Long, who was sitting on the Backdoor side of the peak when Malik took off, remembers. "And a bunch of guys came up from the beach too, everyone yelling 'Malik's down!' We all formed a line and were looking around the reef underwater between sets for any sign of color."
About 15 minutes passed before someone found Malik's body in front of Ehukai Beach Park, about 100 yards northeast of Pipe. Long was one of the first four or five to get to the body. "We got him propped up on a longboard and someone was trying to give him CPR, but it's very difficult to do on an unstable surface," Long said. One big set wave came through while they were bringing his body to shore, and a few of the surfers bear-hugged Malik's body so they wouldn't lose it again.
The Lifeguards were ready on the beach and gave CPR for another 15 minutes, as well as giving two shots with the defibrillator, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead at Kahuku hospital. Around noon, North Shore surfers gathered in an impromptu memorial for Malik.
Malik is known best for pulling into superhuman-sized barrels at his home break of Teahupo'o; he was awarded the Monster Energy Tube of the Year in 2003 for what is considered one of the biggest waves ever ridden there.
He's also known around the world as a true ambassador of Tahitian surfing. At home, he worked hard promoting the "No Ice in Paradise" anti-drug campaign, and he has befriended hundreds of visitors to Tahiti, offering up smiles and hospitality to everyone. "He was the nicest guy," Long remembers. "All you had to do was meet him once and you knew he was your friend anywhere in the world." He'll be greatly missed.
Approximately eleven surfers have died while surfing Pipeline over the years. Last February, surf photographer Jon Mozo passed away while shooting Backdoor. There have been hundreds of serious injuries over the years, however. Last year during the Hansen's Pipeline pro, water photographer Larry Haynes split his helmet wide open, and this year saw Tamayo Perry receive 50 stitches in his scalp and Aussie Steve Clements came close to drowning.
Use this forum thread to share memories or thoughts of Malik.
Photos of Malik's last wave (on left) by Cameron Nelson
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Marcus Sanders
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