IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.

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2009-09-05 10:09 PM

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Subject: IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.
I apologize if this has already been posted, but I just returned from Canada, and have not kept up with the forums.

I just saw on the homepage of IMC that there was a death during the swim.  Does anyone have any more details on this?

I hate hearing about this.  It seems this is occurring more and more. 

My heart goes out to the family.

2009-09-06 6:09 AM
in reply to: #2391893

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Subject: RE: IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.
My family volunteered at a run aid station and while there were told about it. What they heard was a 65 year old man had a heart attack on the swim and they couldn't get to him in time to help.
2009-09-06 8:57 AM
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Subject: RE: IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.
Very sorry to hear this.  What is it about tri swims and heart attacks?
2009-09-06 9:35 AM
in reply to: #2392124

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Subject: RE: IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.
wiky - 2009-09-06 8:57 AM Very sorry to hear this.  What is it about tri swims and heart attacks?


I am by no means a doctor, so this is just some guys opinion.  I believe that swimming is a higher stress event compared to the bike and run.  Main reason for this is that people (not all, but it seems most) fear the swim more than the bike and run.  So to me this would get the HR up before one even enters the water.  Second, when you are doing a mass start, I would imagine that tends to lead to higher stress too.  Third, this gentleman was 65 years old and whil that doesn't mean he should have a Heart Attack, I bet he is more prone to it than a 30 year old, etc. 
If one wears a HR monitor during the swim, I bet it would show much higher HR than one would expect. . . especially for non swimmers. 

This is terrible news and surely no one wants to hear of something like this happening.  I don't know what the answer is if there is even one.  I know there are risks associated with this sport in all 3 areas, I guess it comes with being a Triathlete. ..
2009-09-06 10:57 AM
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Subject: RE: IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.
Tell3131 - 2009-09-06 10:35 AM

wiky - 2009-09-06 8:57 AM Very sorry to hear this.  What is it about tri swims and heart attacks?


I am by no means a doctor, so this is just some guys opinion.  I believe that swimming is a higher stress event compared to the bike and run.  Main reason for this is that people (not all, but it seems most) fear the swim more than the bike and run.  So to me this would get the HR up before one even enters the water.  Second, when you are doing a mass start, I would imagine that tends to lead to higher stress too.  Third, this gentleman was 65 years old and whil that doesn't mean he should have a Heart Attack, I bet he is more prone to it than a 30 year old, etc. 
If one wears a HR monitor during the swim, I bet it would show much higher HR than one would expect. . . especially for non swimmers. 

This is terrible news and surely no one wants to hear of something like this happening.  I don't know what the answer is if there is even one.  I know there are risks associated with this sport in all 3 areas, I guess it comes with being a Triathlete. ..


Amen to that! I felt totally calm in the water before the swim start at IMLP this year, but as soon as the gun went off and I was in the middle of all that chaos, my heartrate skyrocketed. I had a panic attack and felt like I couldn't breathe. I was like, crap, I'm not even going to be able to finish the swim on my 1st IM. Fortunately, I just kept doing the breaststroke and apologizing to all the people trying to swim over the top of me. After what seemed like an eternity my HR settled down and I was able to swim normally (for me anyway).
There was an older guy that had a heart attack and died during the ocean swim of the 1st triathlon I ever did.
2009-09-10 7:57 AM
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Subject: RE: IM Canada Folks. . . Death During The Swim.
Apparently the guy had an aortic aneurism, thats what the cornors report said. If thats the case he just bled out and it would of happened at any point in his life whether he was doing the ironman or not. The family, while shocked, did ask for an announcement to be made at the awards banquet saying he died doing something he loved.
The article in the penticton newspaper said that kyakers had talked to the man minutes before he went under. I'm assuming the man must have said he wanted to continue swimming. Divers pulled him up at the first turn.

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