Kurt Van Dyke found murdered in Costa Rica, authorities say

U.S. surfer Kurt Van Dyke was found stabbed and strangled in his Costa Rica home after an apparent break-in

US surfer Kurt Van Dyke has been found murdered in Costa Rica, according to local officials.

Police responded Saturday around 10:50am to reports of an armed break-in at an apartment in Cahuita, Limón province, a coastal region roughly 100 miles east of the capital, San José. Officers discovered Van Dyke’s body inside the residence.

Authorities said the 66-year-old was strangled and stabbed multiple times. His body was found beneath a bed with a sheet covering his face.

A woman who was also inside the apartment survived the attack and was transported to a hospital. Officials said her injuries were not life-threatening.

Investigators believe two suspects broke into the apartment and fled the scene in Van Dyke’s vehicle, identified as a Hyundai Elantra. No arrests have been announced, and police are reviewing CCTV footage as part of the ongoing investigation.

Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Van Dyke was considered a pioneer of Northern California’s surfing scene and had long resided in Costa Rica. He was widely known within the local surfing community.

Authorities said additional details about the circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately available.