A competitor has died after being pulled from choppy waters during a world-famous Ironman triathlon event.
The athlete was competing in the Busseltown Ironman endurance race in the south-west of Western Australia on Sunday when they required medical attention during the first swimming stage of the grueling event.
Event organizers confirmed that the participant was rushed to hospital but ‘has since died’.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of a race participant from Sunday’s triathlon,” said a statement from Ironman in WA.
‘The athlete required medical attention during the swimming portion of the race, with medical staff providing on-site support before being transported to hospital.
“Our sincere condolences go out to the athlete’s family, to whom we will continue to offer our support.
“We appreciate the quick work of the water safety and medical staff on site, who provided medical support to the athlete.”
More than 3,500 participants registered for the 20th anniversary of the world-famous race to compete in the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run.
An athlete died on Sunday after suffering a medical problem during the swimming event of the world-famous Busseltown Ironman endurance race (pictured) in Washington
Other participants said the choppy waters in Busselton Bay resulted in the ‘hardest’ swimming section they had ever encountered
More than half of the participants traveled abroad to participate.
Shocked participants took to social media to share their condolences after the sad news broke.
“My heart and thoughts go out to the family of the Ironman athlete,” former Ironman competitor and commentator Pete Murray wrote on Facebook.
“Such sad news to hear for the Ironman family.”
Another said they were “saddened to hear this, my heart goes out to the family.”
“Never think this will happen to you until it does. Be careful people, take care of each other. The ocean can be a dangerous place,” they wrote.
Others who took part in the event said the swimming portion of the event was ‘the hardest’ they had ever encountered after a usual wind chopped up the water.
“(The) waves were so big that sometimes you couldn’t see the racing buoys,” one participant wrote.
Another said: ‘The swimming condition was so tough’.
The event also featured the Ironman 70.3, covering half the distance of the full triathlon.