Surfing legend Mick Fanning has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his father John after his death recently.

The three-time world champion remembered his dad as a ‘larrikin till his last days’ in an Instagram post on Saturday.

‘Fly High Dad… John Joseph Fanning,’ Mick wrote.

‘A father of 5, grandfather of 8. His proudest achievements in his own words were his Kids and Grandchildren.

‘A Larrikin till his last days, but a loyal friend to so many.

Three-time world champion Mick Fanning (second from right) is pictured with his father John, mother Elizabeth and partner Bree 

Mick said his father’s ‘proudest achievements in his own words were his Kids and Grandchildren’ in a heartfelt tribute after John passed away

‘Dad was not shy in the club, always becoming the Court Jester and Master of Ceremonies at any local drinking hole.

‘I know he always did his best for all us kids and he would always light up and become 20 years younger when the little ones would visit.

‘I know you’ll have your shirt, pants and boots looking sharp as you venture the universe with your giant smile and infectious laugh.

‘Thank you for all the life lessons, the love and guidance, the honesty.

‘I know you’ll always be with me and I’ll always celebrate you.

‘Love you Dad.’

Fanning’s touching words drew praise and support from Aussie sport stars like swimming great Michael Klim, NRL star Daine Laurie and AFL legend Lance Franklin. 

The surfing community also showed their love for Fanning, with Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow and Stephanie Gilmore also chiming in.

John Fanning (pictured with Mick) left Ireland to start a new life in Australia 

John’s passing comes after Mick’s three brothers all died young in tragic circumstances

No cause of death has been announced for John Fanning, who came to Australia from Ireland with Mick’s mother Elizabeth.

John’s death follows a string of tragedies for the Fanning family.

Mick – who is also famous for fending off a shark attack in South Africa in 2015 – was 17 years old when his brother Sean, 20, died in a car crash in 1998.

The surfer’s brother Peter also died in a car crash, passing away in 2015 aged just 43.

In March 2024, Mick’s brother Edward, 48, died in Madagascar due to an infection from a cut foot and heart complications.

Mick spoke about how tragedy had stalked him in 2020.

‘2015 was such a down year. I went through a divorce, had the shark incident and then, at the end of it all, I lost my brother,’ he said.

‘I was just totally empty at the end of it. I was done.

‘I felt like I had nothing to give, nothing to give myself, or to the people around me, or to family and friends.

‘I just didn’t see a way of coming back. I’ve never felt that empty before. I just lay in bed, did nothing, wouldn’t leave the house.’

The 44-year-old also voiced his devastation over Edward’s fate two days after he died.

‘Ed, love you my brother,’ he began. 

‘You taught me so much over the years about everything that life could deal up. The good and the bad you were my teacher. You introduced us all to surfing, the joy and freedom of riding a wave.

‘The meaning of going to the ends of the earth to find waves to following a passion in the belief that surfing could be that ultimate job. As the years went on you would fall in and out of the ocean but your pure talent would always shine through.

‘To where you ended up in teaching kids the joy of riding a wave. Without you I’m not sure what the world would of made of me so Thank you.’