Surfers paddle out at Atlantic Beach to honor friend killed in Nicaragua

Surfers gathered at Atlantic Beach on Sunday morning to remember a local surfer who died in Nicaragua.

Devan Kennedy, 28, died while surfing in Nicaragua almost three weeks ago.

Action News Jax Amber Krycka talked to surfers who paddled out for Kennedy to say their final goodbyes on Sunday.

“He’s a ray of sunshine that put a smile on everyone’s face that he ever interacted with,” Chris Falzone said.

A crowd of almost 100 surfers formed a giant circle in the ocean and tossed flowers into the surf in his honor.

“He’s just sunshine, as pretty as the waves are today, that’s Devan to a T,” Falzone said. “And that’s how I’ll always remember him.”

Friends said Kennedy spent most of his time riding the waves and sharing his passion for surfing.

“You couldn’t keep him out of the water,” Falzone said.

Falzone said Kennedy taught him more than how to be a good surfer.

“He taught us things and ingrained things in us that we’ll never forget,” he said.

A report said rip currents were strong when Kennedy went for a surf off Punta Miramar.

Later that morning, he was found face down in the channel.

Devan’s dad Mike Kennedy went to Nicaragua looking for answers but left with more questions..

“I even paddled out and surfed at the same spot to try to be just close to his spirit,” he said.

Mike Kennedy may never know what caused his son's death but he said he’s comforted in knowing the impact his son left behind.

“Knowing how much joy he brought into other people’s lives, he was just so incredibly, unselfishly generous,” he said.

Cox Media Group