Mick Fanning & Koby Abberton pay tribute to surfer Mikala Jones who died in freak artery accident

Aussie surfing stars Mick Fanning and Koby Abberton have led the tributes for Hawaiian legend Mikala Jones, who reportedly died of blood loss after severing a major artery in the Mentawai Islands off the coast of Indonesia.

Jones, 44, was famed for his incredible use of Go-Pro imagery when out in the ocean and his genuine nature ensured he was universally respected and loved within the sport.

Exact details of his death remain unclear but the Surfline website reported he died of blood loss on Sunday after one of the fins on his board likely severed his femoral artery, the main vessel supplying blood to the lower body.   

Three-time world champion Fanning was shattered at the news and described his good friend as ‘one of a kind’ who was also an ‘explorer, pioneer and family man’.

Bra Boy and big wave surfer Abberton posted on Instagram that Jones ‘loved the ocean, loved his friends and loved his family’ and was an inspiration to everyone he met.

Jones’s daughter Isabella posted on social media that she was ‘in so much disbelief right now, this doesn’t feel real’ but that she was ‘happy he was doing what he loved the most’.

Aussie surfing stars Mick Fanning and Koby Abberton have led the tributes for Hawaiian legend Mikala Jones, (pictured) who died after severing his artery in the Mentawai Islands off the coast of Indonesia

Jones, 44, grew up in Hawaii, but also spent plenty of time in Indonesia chasing unexplored surf spots

Three-time world champion Mick Fanning described his good friend as ‘one of a kind’ who was also an ‘explorer, pioneer and family man’

She also posted ‘life will never be the same’ without her beloved father.

Brian Bielmann, a famed surf photographer and friend of Jones, wrote on Facebook that ‘details are a little sketchy but it sounds like he was hit by his surfboard and cut a main artery [before bleeding out]’.

He later added on Instagram: ‘Mikala was 44 which is far too young. He was a wonderful person and incredible artist….and his Go Pro photos were just mind blowing. 

‘We are [all] gonna miss him so much.’

In another tribute, Surfline hailed Jones as as ‘one of the 21st century’s most photogenic surfers’.

Jones was born and raised on Rock Point in Hawaii, surf magazine Stab reported, adding that he moved to Bali in the early 2000s.

Big wave surfer Koby Abberton posted on Instagram that Jones ‘loved the ocean, loved his friends and loved his family’ 

Jones, who was born and raised on Rock Point in Hawaii, was known for his iconic photographs and footage captured as he rode some of the most pristine waves on the planet

Mick Fanning shared a photo on Instagram of Jones and himself, writing that he was ‘one of a kind’

Jones’ daughter Isabella shared several touching photos of her and her father together on Instagram as she paid tribute to him

He was known within the global surfing community for discovering unexplored surf locations around the world, and was passionate about their preservation.

Fanning, who famously survived a shark attack in 2015 when surfing in a competition at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, also stated Jones had a ‘great sense of humour and was loved for his ‘classic one liners.’

On Jones’ Instagram, further surfing identities expressed their sadness at the news, notably icon Kelly Slater and ex-pro surfer turned house DJ, Paul Fisher.

Jones is survived by his wife Emma and their three children.