Author(s): Tim Baker, Mark Occhilupo

Sport

Child star at sixteen, ranked third in the world at seventeen, winner of the Pipeline Masters at nineteen - Mark Occhilupo looked set to sweep all before him with a radical, spontaneous, irresistible brand of surfing. Yet a spiralling descent into drug abuse and depression snuffed his flame out prematurely, when he quit the pro tour at just twenty-two. Faltered comebacks, spectacular bursts of free-surfing and manic breakdowns followed, as the surfing world watched a freakish talent self-combust.
After years spent immobile and overweight on the couch, in his so-called 'Elvis period', Occy eventually emerged from his cocoon, reborn and ready to tackle a whole new generation of surf stars.
His celebrated comeback to win the world title in 1999, sixteen years after his career began, is a sporting fairytale without equal.
Now for the first time, in his own words, Occy tells the complete, remarkable story of his spectacular rise, terrifying fall and miraculous rebirth.