Legendary Australian surfer Mick Fanning has posted a heartfelt tribute to his brother Edward following his tragic passing in Madagascar.

Edward’s death was announced yesterday by friend Stevie Maher and is the third Fanning brother to pass after brothers Peter in 2015, and Sean in 1998.

Peter died in his sleep from a health-related condition, while Sean was tragically killed in a car crash in Coolangatta, when was just 17 years old.

Edward’s cause of death is not yet known.

In an Instagram post, Mick paid tribute to his “larrikin” brother and credited him for his surfing success.

“Love you my brother. You taught me so much over the years about everything that life could deal up,” Fanning wrote.

“The good and the bad you were my teacher.”

“I know at times you found it hard to find your happy place,” Fanning wrote.

“It warms my heart to know you found it these last few years. To hear the excitement in your voice each time we talked filled me with hope.”

When his brother Peter passed in 2015 Fanning said he hit rock bottom.

“I went through a divorce, had the shark incident and then at the end of it all I lost my brother. I was just totally empty at the end of it. I was done,” Fanning told 60 Minutes.

“That was the one that just floored me. I was like ‘what else? What else can be taken in a year?’ At the end of 2015, I just hit rock bottom,” he said.