Irons’ kin slams wait for autopsy

The family of three-time world surfing champion Andy Irons of Kauai said they did not request a delay in releasing an autopsy report on Irons’ Nov. 2 death in a Dallas hotel room and is prepared for whatever the report might say.

"We would like the media and public to know that we have been anticipating the results for six months and were prepared to greet the release of this information with honesty and forthrightness," the family said in a statement. "We know that Andy’s life and death were tainted by drugs and are ready to accept the medical examiner’s findings."

In December, Irons’ widow, Lyndie Irons, was granted a temporary injunction, delaying the release of the autopsy report from the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office.

Lyndie Irons said at the time that the report could tarnish her husband’s brand and that she and their newborn son are "dependent on the financial well-being of a company established by the celebrity status of Andy Irons."

The injunction expired Friday.

But attorney Arch McColl III modified the request for a delay, and Tarrant County District Judge Donald J. Cosby granted a 30-day extension last week on releasing Irons’ autopsy report until June 20.

In the statement, Irons’ family said, "A lawyer in Dallas, operating without authorization from the family, made a unilateral decision to request a delay on behalf of the family as a way to provide sufficient time for the 10-page toxicology report to be translated into laymen’s terms and prevent the risk of its being misconstrued or misunderstood. … Unfortunately, this delay has now caused a firestorm of media speculation about the intentions of Andy’s family."

Irons, 32, died in his Dallas hotel room while on his way back home to Hawaii after he withdrew from a competition in Puerto Rico.

At the time, relatives said Irons was suffering from dengue fever.

The prescription medications alprazolam and zolpidem were found in the room, according to a Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Police report.