Shane Herring: Australian surfing prodigy who beat Kelly Slater before succumbing to drugs dies aged 53

An Aussie surfer once touted to become world champion has died in his sleep after falling down stairs.

Shane “Hero” Herring was a freakishly talented surfer who looked to have the world at his feet when he beat American legend Kelly Slater in the final of the ‘92 Coke Classic pro event.

It catapulted him to No. 1 in the world and made him and instant star.

Herring died in his sleep on Sunday morning at his apartment in Tweed Heads in NSW hours after the 53-year-old fell down a set of stairs and complained of having a headache.

Slater shared a touching tribute online after news of his death broke.

“He best blended the old school power and pure lines with the new school mentality and speed in the 90s,” Slater said.

“He had his demons that limited his time of greatness. He loved the purity in surfing and was uncomfortable with the limelight and notoriety and scrutiny it brought him.

“He made a bigger mark than he might be known for these days and it hurts to know we won’t get to catch up again ... Ride on, Shane. We’re thinking of ya.”

Many had predicted that Herring and Slater would go on to battle it out for many titles.

But within two years, Herring was grappling with drug addiction.

In an interview in 2012, Herring admitted how his six-figure sponsorship deals and tour earnings were blown on drugs and drink.

“A lot of it went up my nose,” he said. “Started out as coke but eventually ended up as lower-class drugs.

”Amphetamines … you don’t even know it when it’s happening.

“You don’t know until you get depressed and they put you on psychiatric drugs and then it takes a long time to get off that f***ing s**t.

“When you get depressed you really f**k up. And that’s when they think you’re a harm to yourself and a harm to society.

“So basically don’t even go there. Don’t take drugs.”

Herring, who was born in Manly, battled drug and alcohol addiction for over a decade, spending time in psychiatric facilities before a year-long stint in rehab in 2010.

“Despite his long struggles, Shano had been off the drink in recent years,” Surfing World wrote on social media on Tuesday.

“A surfing talent like few we’d ever seen in Australian surfing, Herro burned brief but bright in the early ‘90s before flaming out.

“He lived quietly on the North Coast in the decades after and while he still had his issues with the drink, he could be occasionally coaxed back into the water to feel the old magic and he kept shaping boards to the end.”

Narcotics Anonymous WA: 1300 652 820, www.na.org.au