Jimmy Buffett, Carl Hiaasen.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Johnny Louis/WireImageJimmy Buffett’s longtime friendCarl Hiaasenis paying tribute to the late singer-songwriter’s strength and love of life.Celebrating the resilience of Buffett — whodied on Friday at the age of 76after a diagnosis ofMerkel cell carcinoma four years ago— Hiaasen exclusively tells PEOPLE that doctor’s orders didn’t slow the “Margaritaville” singer down. And neither did any potentially dangerous sea creatures, for that matter.“I was with Jimmy in the Bahamas in October of 2022,” the author, 70, says. “He was supposed to take it easy although he didn’t know what that meant. He was fishing when a large lemon shark was heading for him. He had a drone up because he wanted a video of this experience. He was so excited because he wanted to put it on stage while he was performing during his next tour when he performed his song ‘Fins.'”“The shark was really close but Jimmy was so excited," Hiaasen added. “He was planning for where this video would go in his show. There was no way to slow him down!”Jimmy Buffett performs in May 2022.Tim Mosenfelder/WireImageHiaasen, who calls Buffett “larger than life” and “invincible,” even mentions the singer-songwriter in his upcoming children’s bookWrecker,which is set in Key West, Florida. He was able to show his friend the book, which is set to be released on Sept. 26, before he died.On the same trip that the duo had the shark encounter, Buffett also worked his way around a foil surfboard.“He just got up and disappeared even though he was told to take it easy. We couldn’t see him and were trying because we wanted to know where he went," Hiaasen recalls. “After five or more minutes, he came back, hopped off, and was as happy as can be.”“I truly thought he could beat this because he had such a phenomenal attitude,” Hiaasen added. “This is so hard for me to accept or talk about.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Shortly after Buffett’s death was announced on social media over the weekend, an obituary on his website revealed that he died following the diagnosis of the rare, aggressive skin cancer. The singer-songwriter continued to perform through treatments, theobituarynoted.Celebrity friends and fanshave continued to remember Buffett with moving tributesthroughout the weekend, with the likes ofAndy Cohen,Miles Tellerand PresidentJoe Bidenpaying their respects.On his own Instagram page, Hiaasen shared an image of himself and his friend in the cockpit of a what appeared to be a plane, calling Buffett’s death “heart-crushing news.““Nobody had more pure fun in life, or worked harder to share it with others,” theHootauthor wrote on Saturday.“He lived true to his songs, and he was writing with joy until the end, tweaking the final cuts on a new album. Jimmy had one gear: moving at the speed of light, even in flip-flops. He was, literally and exuberantly, all over the map. Richly talented, wonderfully generous, and wildly passionate about the places he cherished – peaceful islands and harbors where he transported everyone who loved his music.“Hiaasen added that Buffet was “happiest on stage, whether it was a bar in Key West or center field at Fenway Park.““I’d like to think that somewhere is a pristine stretch of Caribbean beach where we still might find – propped against a palm tree — a fly rod and a Martin guitar,” he wrote. “And, riding the waves, a familiar bionic pirate on a long board, grinning about all the cool s— he got away with. I’ll miss you, JB. Millions will. Thanks for the laughs, the adventures, and the unforgettable sound track.”
Jimmy Buffett, Carl Hiaasen.Photo:Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Johnny Louis/WireImage
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty; Johnny Louis/WireImage
Jimmy Buffett’s longtime friendCarl Hiaasenis paying tribute to the late singer-songwriter’s strength and love of life.Celebrating the resilience of Buffett — whodied on Friday at the age of 76after a diagnosis ofMerkel cell carcinoma four years ago— Hiaasen exclusively tells PEOPLE that doctor’s orders didn’t slow the “Margaritaville” singer down. And neither did any potentially dangerous sea creatures, for that matter.“I was with Jimmy in the Bahamas in October of 2022,” the author, 70, says. “He was supposed to take it easy although he didn’t know what that meant. He was fishing when a large lemon shark was heading for him. He had a drone up because he wanted a video of this experience. He was so excited because he wanted to put it on stage while he was performing during his next tour when he performed his song ‘Fins.'”“The shark was really close but Jimmy was so excited,” Hiaasen added. “He was planning for where this video would go in his show. There was no way to slow him down!”Jimmy Buffett performs in May 2022.Tim Mosenfelder/WireImageHiaasen, who calls Buffett “larger than life” and “invincible,” even mentions the singer-songwriter in his upcoming children’s bookWrecker,which is set in Key West, Florida. He was able to show his friend the book, which is set to be released on Sept. 26, before he died.On the same trip that the duo had the shark encounter, Buffett also worked his way around a foil surfboard.“He just got up and disappeared even though he was told to take it easy. We couldn’t see him and were trying because we wanted to know where he went,” Hiaasen recalls. “After five or more minutes, he came back, hopped off, and was as happy as can be.”“I truly thought he could beat this because he had such a phenomenal attitude,” Hiaasen added. “This is so hard for me to accept or talk about.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Shortly after Buffett’s death was announced on social media over the weekend, an obituary on his website revealed that he died following the diagnosis of the rare, aggressive skin cancer. The singer-songwriter continued to perform through treatments, theobituarynoted.Celebrity friends and fanshave continued to remember Buffett with moving tributesthroughout the weekend, with the likes ofAndy Cohen,Miles Tellerand PresidentJoe Bidenpaying their respects.On his own Instagram page, Hiaasen shared an image of himself and his friend in the cockpit of a what appeared to be a plane, calling Buffett’s death “heart-crushing news.““Nobody had more pure fun in life, or worked harder to share it with others,” theHootauthor wrote on Saturday.“He lived true to his songs, and he was writing with joy until the end, tweaking the final cuts on a new album. Jimmy had one gear: moving at the speed of light, even in flip-flops. He was, literally and exuberantly, all over the map. Richly talented, wonderfully generous, and wildly passionate about the places he cherished – peaceful islands and harbors where he transported everyone who loved his music.“Hiaasen added that Buffet was “happiest on stage, whether it was a bar in Key West or center field at Fenway Park.““I’d like to think that somewhere is a pristine stretch of Caribbean beach where we still might find – propped against a palm tree — a fly rod and a Martin guitar,” he wrote. “And, riding the waves, a familiar bionic pirate on a long board, grinning about all the cool s— he got away with. I’ll miss you, JB. Millions will. Thanks for the laughs, the adventures, and the unforgettable sound track.”
Jimmy Buffett’s longtime friendCarl Hiaasenis paying tribute to the late singer-songwriter’s strength and love of life.
Celebrating the resilience of Buffett — whodied on Friday at the age of 76after a diagnosis ofMerkel cell carcinoma four years ago— Hiaasen exclusively tells PEOPLE that doctor’s orders didn’t slow the “Margaritaville” singer down. And neither did any potentially dangerous sea creatures, for that matter.
“I was with Jimmy in the Bahamas in October of 2022,” the author, 70, says. “He was supposed to take it easy although he didn’t know what that meant. He was fishing when a large lemon shark was heading for him. He had a drone up because he wanted a video of this experience. He was so excited because he wanted to put it on stage while he was performing during his next tour when he performed his song ‘Fins.'”
“The shark was really close but Jimmy was so excited,” Hiaasen added. “He was planning for where this video would go in his show. There was no way to slow him down!”
Jimmy Buffett performs in May 2022.Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage
Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage
Hiaasen, who calls Buffett “larger than life” and “invincible,” even mentions the singer-songwriter in his upcoming children’s bookWrecker,which is set in Key West, Florida. He was able to show his friend the book, which is set to be released on Sept. 26, before he died.
On the same trip that the duo had the shark encounter, Buffett also worked his way around a foil surfboard.
“He just got up and disappeared even though he was told to take it easy. We couldn’t see him and were trying because we wanted to know where he went,” Hiaasen recalls. “After five or more minutes, he came back, hopped off, and was as happy as can be.”
“I truly thought he could beat this because he had such a phenomenal attitude,” Hiaasen added. “This is so hard for me to accept or talk about.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Shortly after Buffett’s death was announced on social media over the weekend, an obituary on his website revealed that he died following the diagnosis of the rare, aggressive skin cancer. The singer-songwriter continued to perform through treatments, theobituarynoted.
Celebrity friends and fanshave continued to remember Buffett with moving tributesthroughout the weekend, with the likes ofAndy Cohen,Miles Tellerand PresidentJoe Bidenpaying their respects.
On his own Instagram page, Hiaasen shared an image of himself and his friend in the cockpit of a what appeared to be a plane, calling Buffett’s death “heart-crushing news.”
“Nobody had more pure fun in life, or worked harder to share it with others,” theHootauthor wrote on Saturday.
“He lived true to his songs, and he was writing with joy until the end, tweaking the final cuts on a new album. Jimmy had one gear: moving at the speed of light, even in flip-flops. He was, literally and exuberantly, all over the map. Richly talented, wonderfully generous, and wildly passionate about the places he cherished – peaceful islands and harbors where he transported everyone who loved his music.”
Hiaasen added that Buffet was “happiest on stage, whether it was a bar in Key West or center field at Fenway Park.”
“I’d like to think that somewhere is a pristine stretch of Caribbean beach where we still might find – propped against a palm tree — a fly rod and a Martin guitar,” he wrote. “And, riding the waves, a familiar bionic pirate on a long board, grinning about all the cool s— he got away with. I’ll miss you, JB. Millions will. Thanks for the laughs, the adventures, and the unforgettable sound track.”
source: people.com
