'Hacked' drone knocks down triathlete

A drone filming a triathlon is suspected of being hacked before it fell from the sky and knocked down an athlete during a race in Western Australia yesterday.

Raija Ogden was heading into the second lap of the Endure Batavia Triathlon in Geraldton when the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), otherwise known as a drone, fell and hit her on the head, knocking her to the ground, local news website Everything Geraldton reports.

The drone's operators, videographers New Era Photography and Film, were covering the event with live footage.

"We will be conducting a full investigation of what happened but it looks as though someone has hacked into our system," owner Warren Abrams said.

The Geraldton Triathlon Club released a statement apologising to Ogden and saying the incident would be investigated.

Club president Simon Teakle said he was "very disappointed that this has occurred".

"We are currently in discussions with the videographers to assess how the incident occurred and the circumstances surrounding the accident," he said.

"This incident should never have occurred and a full investigation will be conducted in conjunction with the videographers involved."

It is not clear what sort of drone was involved in the incident, but likely was a remote-controlled multirotor helicopter fitted with a camera.

Ogden was treated by paramedics at the scene and was in a stable condition with minor head injuries.

Ogden is the wife of the event's defending champion Courtney Ogden, who placed second in yesterday's race shortly after the drone incident.

Source: Everything Geraldton.