Kiwi and Australian resident surfing legend, Allan Byrne, 62, slipped into coma and now in life support in a hospital in Bali, Indonesia, due to a fractured skull and bleeding brain incurred from a motorcycle accident in the Indonesian island.

He was enjoying a holiday prior to a surf competition in the masters division at the Rip Curl Cup at the Padang break in Bali this week.

Mr Byrne was a shaper to famous surfers, namely Kelly Slater, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew, Joel Parkinson and Mark "Occy" Occhilupo.

"I haven't seen Allan in a few years, but when I was young I spent a lot of time surfing with him on the Coast," Mr Occhilupo told Goldcoast.com.au.

"He was always a great surfer and an all-around good guy. It's pretty heavy to hear what has happened to him - we just hope he will be OK. He shaped a few boards for me back in the day. His hand-shaped channel bottom boards were the best. He has a true talent."

Paul and Catriona Hallas, owners of Hot Stuff Suffboards and long-time friends with Mr Byrne said that people from Bali contacted them first, hence making them the bearer of sad news to Mr Byrne's family.

"Allan was in Bali on a surfing holiday but he was shaping boards while he was there. After the accident some surfing sontacts in Bali called the shop looking for a way to contact his family. I had to break the news to his wife, who was hysterical. It's a tough time for everyone. We believe miracles do happen, especially for good people like Allan. The surfing community have been holding candle-lit vigils for him - we all just want him home," Mrs Hallas said.

She also said that his family rushed to Bali immediately after hearing the news from them.

According to TVNZ, Mr Byrne is a four-time New Zealand open champion and also won the junior title four times during the 1960s and 1970s.

He was known famously as a shaper and had moved to Australia's Gold Coast in 1977. His signature design was the breakthrough channel bottom that produced more speed and better handling. He got the concept from aerodynamics which he learned during his time with the New Zealand Air Force.