A beloved father-of-two and popular figure in Sydney’s surfing community has tragically died after suffering a stroke, with the only warning signs being mild back pain.
Bruno Bersot, who lived in Maroubra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, died on Tuesday, leaving behind his wife and two children.
Bersot had been suffering from what he thought was a minor back injury without knowing that he actually had a blood clot in his heart.
The blood clot traveled to his brain, causing Bersot to suffer a fatal stroke, leaving his family devastated.
Tributes have poured in for the talented surfer who was honored as a beloved ‘Bra Boy’ and a Maroubra legend.
Bruno Bersot, (pictured center with sons Mateus and Lucas), originally from Brazil and living in Maroubra, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, died on Tuesday, leaving behind his wife and two children.
‘We send love to all our Brazilian Bra Boy family and the Bersot family. “Bruno was My Brothers Keeper in action, devastated for all of you,” read a post on a page associated with Bra Boy.
Bersot’s son Lucas described him as the “most beautiful dad” in the world in a heartbreaking post.
‘He fought long and hard for everyone he loved. I don’t even know what to write about because it still doesn’t seem real that someone so loved by everyone has died. I have lost the energy to cry. “I’m really speechless,” he wrote.
‘Dad, I love you so much that there won’t be a single second of my life that I won’t be thinking about you.
‘I’m going to miss the time we shared in the water and our daily activities. I know you would want us to be strong and move on with our lives and it will be hard, but we will continue to make you proud. You will forever be in our hearts.
Bersot had been experiencing what he thought was a minor back injury before suffering a fatal stroke.
“I really wish today wasn’t the last time I could hug you, but you will always be by my side. I know you will be in heaven surfing the best waves and having the best time with your mom and dad. Heaven gained a beautiful angel today .’
Bersot’s other son, Mateus, said he had lost his “superhero.”
“There are no words to explain how I feel and how much I miss you,” he wrote, alongside a series of family photos.
‘You are my best friend and I can’t thank you enough for teaching me everything I know in surfing and outside of surfing. I love you forever.’
Since then, Kalani Silvester, a family friend, has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, with more than $42,000 raised so far.
The friend said Bersot had died just four days after first feeling unwell and was his family’s “pillar of strength”.
“Their hearts are filled with deep shock and disbelief as they struggle with the incomprehensible reality of life without Bruno’s presence,” they said.
Bersot’s son Mateus said he had lost his “superhero” in heartbreaking post
‘Bruno was deeply dedicated to his children and the ocean; His love of surfing extended beyond the shores of Maroubra to surrounding communities in both Indonesia and Hawaii.
Another friend, Mauricio Gil, said Bersot had left him at the airport just a week ago and he had complained of pain.
“I asked my brother, ‘I’ll get an Uber,’ and you told me to ‘be realistic,'” she said in a tribute on Facebook.
You left today and I can’t believe it!!! Am I having a nightmare? I know we didn’t choose the same soccer team, but that didn’t stop us from being best friends.
‘I remember last week driving to your house and telling all sorts of funny stories from when we were kids in Brazil, which made the trip very quick from Narrabeen to Maroubra. Well, knowing you, I don’t think you want us to be sad!’