This is a good question. I am going to do some research on it. Worldwide there must be some deaths...but I've never heard of even one.

posted 12-06-07 Ghost Trees and Living Moterrey Cypress at Pebble Beach, CA This isn't my sport, but I was listening to a local NPR (general issues) program Monday and the guys (surfers) that know their stuff said for people to stay our of the coastal waters for the next few days unless one is an expert surfer. Well, apparently, at one place it was too much even for a guy considered "legendary" in the skill. Excerpt SF Gate report "'Legendary' surfer perishes in huge waves " Picture of waves at site: An accomplished local surfer who lived for monster waves died Tuesday at Ghost Trees, a Monterey County surf spot known for its potent swells and dangerous conditions. Peter Davi, 45, one of the area's most beloved watermen, apparently lost his board and attempted to swim to shore, according to fellow surfers. He was later found floating in the water unconscious and was pronounced dead around 1:30 p.m., the Monterey County coroner's office said. His death devastated Santa Cruz and Monterey surfers, many of whom had ventured to Ghost Trees on Tuesday in search of big waves. "Pete was well-loved and well-respected worldwide," said Anthony Ruffo, one of Davi's best friends, who was at the surf spot Tuesday. "People from everywhere are calling. He'll be so missed. He's the diplomat of surfing. He was an anchor and a bridge between Santa Cruz and Monterey surfers." "He's my friend," Ruffo said, "and I'm going to miss him so much." Also at Ghost Trees was Tyler Smith, a professional surfer from Santa Cruz who said the wave faces were as big as 60 to 70 feet, "almost as big as we've seen out there."

1) The deaths and injuries do rarely come because of the waves alone. It is rather the combination of the energy of the waves, drowning, collisions (also with the own surfboard), and even sea life. "Dangers - Drowning: Surfing, like all water sports, carries the inherent danger of drowning. Although a surfboard may assist a surfer in staying buoyant, it cannot be relied on for floatation, as it can be separated from the user. The use of a leash, which is attached at the ankle or knee, keeps the surfer connected to the board for convenience but is not used as a safeguard to prevent drowning. The established rule is that if the surfer cannot handle the water conditions without his or her board then he or she should not go in. Some drownings have occurred as a result of leashes becoming caught on reefs, holding the surfer underwater. In very large waves such as Waimea or Mavericks, being attached to the board may be undesirable, as the board can be pulled for long distances in the whitewater, holding the surfer underneath the wave. Surfers will often surf in pairs or groups as a safeguard. - Collisions: Under the wrong set of conditions, anything that a surfer's body can come in contact with is potentially a danger, including sand bars, rocks, reefs, surfboards, and other surfers. Collisions with these objects can sometimes cause unconsciousness, or even death. Many surfers jump off bridges, buildings, wharves and other structures to reach the surf. If the timing is wrong they can either damage themselves or their equipment, or both. A large number of injuries, up to 66%, are caused by impact of either a surfboard nose or fins with the surfer's body. Surfboard fins can cause deep lacerations and cuts, as well as bruising due to their shape. While these injuries can be minor, they can open the skin to infection from the sea; groups like SAS campaign for cleaner waters to reduce the risk of infections. Being knocked off your surfboard by a wave, a collision with others, or generally hurting oneself whilst surfing is commonly referred to as a wipeout. - Sea life: Various types of sea life can sometimes cause injuries and even fatalities. Depending on the location of the surfing activity, animals such as sharks, stingrays, seals and jellyfish can sometimes be a danger to surfers. - Localism: Local surfers can sometimes use intimidation and violence, in an attempt to guard their surf break against use by outsiders in an attempt to avoiding crowding. This is called "localism." Some surfers have been known to form gangs that surf a certain break, and fiercely protect their spot from outsiders. These surfers are typically referred to simply as "locals". An example of a notorious localized surf break, is Lunada Bay, in Palos Verdes, California." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfing#Dangers 2) "Injury Statistics for different activities Limitations of the Statistics Due to the difficulty of ascertaining accurate participant numbers for each activity, these statistics should be considered to be estimates only. Activity in NZ Injury rate per 1,000 participants Aerobics 0.18 Cycling (road & mtn biking) 0.46 Fishing 0.12 Golf 0.39 Home injuries 5.18 Jogging 0.17 Motorsports 2.40 Motor vehicles3 .09 Netball 6.06 Rugby union 20.27 Skiing 4.22 Soccer 7.25 Surfing/bodyboarding 0.58 Swimming 0.13 Tramping 0.17" Source and further information: http://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/resources/outdoorsafety/resources/docs/injury-statistics.doc 3) "Andrew Nathanson, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of medicine, has led the largest study of surfing injuries to date. "I think that surfing is quite a bit safer than people believe," he says, although there is room to improve the safety of equipment." "“There is little information in the medical literature about surfing, and a general perception that the sport is extreme and dangerous,” said Andrew Nathanson, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of medicine. Nathanson led the largest study of surfing injuries to date, which appeared recently in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Before that study, the last major research paper on surfing injuries was published in 1987. Since then, surfboards have become lighter, new maneuvers have evolved, surfing sites have gotten crowded, and surfers have started tackling more-treacherous waves." "“I think that surfing is quite a bit safer than people believe,” said Nathanson. “For example, I think it is significantly safer than high school football. I’d say the relative incidence of injuries is the same or less than for high school basketball.” Nathanson used a Web-based survey system to collect surfing injury information from 1,348 recreational surfers in 48 countries. He and two colleagues reported that most surfing injuries were lacerations and contusions, evenly divided between the head and neck area, and the lower extremity. Two-thirds of injuries were caused by contact with a surfer’s own board or that of another surfer. Older surfers, surfers with higher skills, and those taking on larger waves were at increased risk for significant injury. To prevent many of the injuries, the researchers suggested improved surfboard designs that would not greatly affect performance. For example, the study showed that surfboard fins caused 30 percent of all acute surfing injuries. Fins with duller edges, made from softer material, and fins that break on impact may lead to fewer lacerations, wrote the authors. Increased use of protection, such as helmets or wetsuits, would also cut back on injuries, they said. Nathanson is collecting injury data from competitive surfers. Last month he attended part of a nine-day competition in Huntington Beach, Calif., that involved more than 500 surfers. The event embodied the relatively safety of surfing, Nathanson said. Only four injuries occurred. Three were minor, and those surfers returned to competition. One individual suffered a dislocated shoulder. In contrast, adjacent skateboarding and bicycling competitions produced far more injuries, he said. “These involved several cases of broken bones on hard surfaces, compared to surfers who fell into the relative cushion of water.”" Source and further information: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/George_Street_Journal/vol27/27GSJ02d.html

I'm not sure, but do know they can sometimes suffer serious injuries.