The life of surfing pioneer Jack O’Neill was honoured with a paddle out of more than 240 surfers at Great Western Beach in Newquay.

With a worldwide series of memorial paddle outs scheduled on Sunday, Jack’s home town of Santa Cruz, California led proceedings with simultaneous paddle outs taking place in Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. O’Neill died in his home in California in his 90s last wek.

Gathering at Great Western Beach, a popular hangout of the inaugural surfers of the 60s, those wishing to pay their respects were guided out past the breaking waves by O’Neill team athlete and 11-time European Longboard Champion Ben Skinner.

As they joined hands, surfers came together in a circle sharing words of remembrance, with floating floral tributes.