The first day of racing at today’s Ironman World Championship in Lahti, Finland has been marred by another tragedy in the water – one of the athletes died after being “extracted from the water approximately halfway into the swim.” Here’s a statement from Ironman:
On a day meant to celebrate the spirit and achievements of our Ironman 70.3 World Championship athletes, we are devastated to share the passing of one of our race competitors. The athlete was extracted from the water approximately halfway into the swim, received immediate medical assistance by water safety first responders, and continued to receive treatment on shore by emergency personnel, including two event doctors. Despite all medical efforts, the athlete passed away. Our thoughts and care are with the family and friends of the athlete, who we will continue to support as they go through this very difficult time. We also have great appreciation for the medical and safety teams who worked quickly to provide the athlete with medical support. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will have no further comment.
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