'Deeply saddened': Competitor dies after being pulled from water in Busselton Ironman
An athlete pulled from the water during the swim leg of the gruelling Busselton Ironman on Sunday has died.
In a statement on social media, race organisers confirmed the unnamed athlete died on Monday.
The athlete was one of more than 3,500 entrants who took part in the event's 20th anniversary, held on the south-east tip of WA. The triathlon includes a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run.
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"We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of a race participant from Sunday's triathlon," a statement from Ironman in Western Australia read.
Competitors at the start of the 2024 Busselton Ironman. Facebook
"The athlete required medical attention during the swim portion of the race, with event medical personnel providing support onsite before transporting them to hospital.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the athlete's family, whom we will continue to offer our support.
"We appreciate the quick work of onsite water safety and medical personnel who provided the athlete with medical support."
According to the race website, competitors are kept closer to shore during the swim leg, "meaning less exposure to the weather and better swim conditions".
On social media, an experienced Ironman athlete said the swim conditions were the "hardest (he'd) encountered", with waves "that big you couldn't see the race buoys at times".
