‘Infectious smile and a good heart’: surfer Chris Davidson dies after allegedly punched in the face by Waratah coach’s brother

The man accused of causing the death of ex-surfing champion Chris Davidson in one-punch attack identified as brother of NSW Waratahs coach.

Tributes are flowing for former world number 14 surfer Chris ‘Davo’ Davidson.

The man accused of causing the death of former surfing champion Chris Davidson in a one-punch attack has been identified as the brother of NSW Waratahs coach Darren Coleman.

Davidson, a former gold-medal winning Australian surfing champion died after he was allegedly punched outside a pub on the NSW mid-north coast.

Grant Coleman is charged with assaulting Davidson causing his death outside South West Rocks Country Club in South West Rocks about 11pm on Saturday.

The 42-year-old was arrested about 30 minutes after the alleged attack at a nearby home and charged at Kempsey police station.

Tributes have flowed for the former world No.14.

After the 45-year-old was knocked unconscious, he was taken to hospital, where he died a short time later.

Nathan Hedge, Chris ‘Davo’ Davidson and Greg Hedge in 1997. Picture: Supplied.

Professional surfer Nathan “The Hog” Hedge, who grew up surfing with Davidson at Narrabeen in the mid-1990s, told The Australian on Sunday that he was full of “mongrel, determination and grit”.

“He definitely shaped me as a surfer and his attitude and how he went about things definitely shaped me to the competitor that I am,” Mr Hedge said.

Chris ‘Davo’ Davidson. Picture: Facebook

As a teenager, Davidson beat Kelly Slater in two consecutive heats after he was granted a wildcard entry into the Rip Curl Pro Bells – the first on a new board he’d never used and the second on one he ­borrowed from Mr Hedge.

“Beating him was unreal, the best thing that could have happened at the moment,” Davidson told The Australian in 1996.

Slater posted a tribute to Davidson on Instagram on Sunday. “Lost another soldier yesterday. #RipChrisDavo. Had many a good battle with this guy. One of the most naturally talented surfers I ever knew,” the post from Slater read.

Mr Coleman faced a registrar at Port Macquarie Local Court on Sunday morning. He was ­refused bail.