French surfing champion dead aged 24 - months after leaving for new life

The French Surfing Federation announced, with the permission of her family, the death of Poeti Norac. [Courtesy]

A French surfing champion has tragically died at the age of 24 - just months after leaving Europe for a new life in Australia.

The French Surfing Federation announced, with the permission of her family, the death of Poeti Norac, who was a French longboard champion.

The young woman, who is believed to have been living in Australia for only a few months, is said to have died on the Sunshine Coast in southern Queensland, near Brisbane.

The circumstances of her death last weekend are, at this stage, unclear. 

The federation said: "The surfing community has lost a family member, a beautiful person with a radiant smile, an artist on her big board and whose enthusiasm radiated in [the] Vendee [region] and everywhere else.

"A ceremony in tribute to Poeti will take place soon, the date and place of which we will communicate to you."

She had become a major player in French surfing, finishing runner-up in the national championships in 2018 and third in 2016.

The federation added: "Poeti took part in four national finals and boasted 10 French Cup victories, including the 100 percent girls one in 2017."

The 24-year-old took part in four national finals and boasted 10 French Cup victories. [Courtesy]

She was also very committed to teaching young people how to surf. She received her BPJEPS ('Brevet Professionnel de la Jeunesse, de l'Education Populaire et du Sport'; Professional Youth, Popular Education, and Sports Certificate) Surf diploma at the age of 18.

She had learned to surf with her dad at the age of six in Les Sables d'Olonne, a seaside town in the Vendee department in western France, where she was from. She had first used a shortboard before switching to the longboard.

The talented surfer had posted several pictures of herself with her surfboards on Australian beaches after arriving in the country.