Two competitors have tragically died in the Ironman Ireland event staged around Youghal in County Cork on Sunday morning.
The race had been in doubt following damage caused by storms leading up to the race but Cork County Council had been praised by organisers for clearing the course and allowing the race to proceed.
The two who died were in their 60’s and their 40’s, one living in England and one in Canada.
It is understood they got into difficulty separately. Emergency services identified they were in trouble and acted quickly to get to them but both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Triathlon participants would be at the high end of the fitness scale, even given their age, and it is one of the sports that prides itself on the ability to compete at age grade level.
Ironman is an extreme version of the sport where the competitors would compete in a 3.8 kilometre open water swim followed by a 180 km cycle and then a 42.2 kilometre run.
You would never enter into that kind of activity lightly.
It is understood that the half distance Ironman 70.3 which was scheduled to take place on Saturday was instead postponed to today and that the competitors for this had gone into the water at 6:30 AM, swimming 1.9 kilometres.
There was no issue with water temperature or no question that there were any more risks than would normally be managed by Ironman organisers.
It looks like a pair of tragic accidents.
In a post on social media, Ironman Ireland said it is “deeply saddened” to confirm the deaths.
“During the swim portion of Sunday’s race, safety personnel provided immediate medical attention upon recognising the athletes were in need of assistance.”
“We share our greatest sympathies with the families and friends of the athletes and will continue to offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time.”
“We thank the safety personnel and first responders who worked quickly to provide the athletes with medical assistance.”
