It’s hard to comprehend the sort of year Mick Fanning has had.

He fought for his life in South African waters when he was attacked by a Great White shark under the glare of a hundred cameras.

He returned to the water and stands on the brink of winning the biggest prize in World Surfing at Hawaii’s Pipeline Masters.

And today, before he paddled out to win his place in the finals, he found out his older brother Peter, 43, was dead.

Mick posted on Instagram this afternoon:

Peter apparently died in his sleep at Mick’s Queensland home.

Fanning has already lived through losing a brother – his younger brother Sean was killed in a car accident in 1998.The brothers, teenagers at the time, were on their way home from the same party in separate cars.

“Tell the special people in your life you love them and give them a hug.”

Today, there were understandably emotional scenes as Fanning got out of the water and embraced fellow surfers, and would only tell reporters that he had some”heavy personal stuff going on”.

That, we can only imagine, must be an understatement.

It has been an enormous year for the Fanning family (Image via 60 Minutes)

Fanning told The Daily Telegraph earlier this week that he thought of Sean often and the support he got from the surfing community had really helped him to deal with Sean’s death.

“He’s with me. He’s with me a lot. Hopefully I will feel his presence out there with me,” he said.

After Fanning narrowly escaped a shark attack competing off the coast of South Africa, he became a national hero.

After punching the shark to get away, the 34-year-old said he would be happy to never compete again.

But after spending some down time with family on the Gold Coast he regrouped, and returned to the surf.

An emotional Mick after today’s success (Image via Fox Sports)

Despite the tragic news, he is currently on track to win the title, and perhaps have some good news amongst the bad.

As he pulled out of an incredible barrel, Fanning looked to the heavens.

As is to be expected, Fanning has asked for media and the public to respect his privacy, and the privacy of his family “while we come to terms with this devastating loss.”

“Big thanks from our entire family,” he posted. “Tell the special people in your life you love them and give them a hug.”