Two men died at an Ironman event in Ireland on Sunday. The 64-year-old Canadian was identified locally as Ivan Chittenden from Toronto, who was attending the event with his friends.
The second person to die was Brendan Wall, who was from County Meath and lived in Solihull. Canadian Ivan Chittenden was a dedicated runner who had just retired from his 40-year career with a leading global professional services firm. He enjoyed traveling to international half-marathon and marathon competitions and was a regular participant in events such as the Boston Marathon.
The pair faced a solo challenge while competing in the swimming division of a competition in Youghal, Co. Cork. They were pulled out of the water and pronounced dead by medical staff. An autopsy is scheduled for today as investigators are trying to figure out what happened at Youghal yesterday morning. Fein Gale's Cllr. Sinead Sheppard was in Youghal to cheer on her husband Eamonn, who was attending the event.
She said she learned the men had died separately later that day. "I'm so sad because no one thought I would happen." "The swim was long gone, and we were in the bike department when the rumors spread. Everyone is completely shocked." “Thousands of people come to events like this. It's usually a very happy atmosphere. It's a little quieter now.
One of the athletes who died
People celebrate, but in the back of their minds, they think someone died," CorkBeo reports. Chief of Staff Shepard, from Cobh, said most attendees at the event had mixed feelings about how to celebrate after news of the death broke. "Today I just think I'm here with my family to celebrate something, but in the back of my mind I can't help but think that there are other families here that I thought were celebrating. It's just that a tragedy is happening now. I can't believe it. “As for their families, we are thinking of them.
" One participant, who requested anonymity, said he heard others screaming for help from the surface, but didn't realize the scale of the tragedy until after the event. Meanwhile, Stephen Lynch, from Bandung, West Cork, attended a full Ironman event, after which he was informed of the fatal accident. “During the race, you don't realize that something is going on.
It could have happened to anyone. Swimming started here (on the beach). It was high tide, so we angled out towards the orange buoy so we were facing the waves. That was the hard part. What happened is also difficult for the people who organized it.
” Lynch competed in his second Ironman event. He was delighted with his success and said it had been a "challenging" day. "It is very sad what has happened to these people. A man said he had attended such an event in Lanzarote, where the incident happened. Water can be unforgiving.
The atmosphere is electric." So it was a shame that something like this happened. ” The event was attended by Irish couple Oife and Nigel Travers, now based in Perth but originally from Castleknock, Dublin. Nigel said fatalities in Ironman competition "usually occur in swimming." He said he was aware of the deaths at an Ironman event in France a few weeks ago and thought there had been deaths at similar events in Germany. The couple expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased.
Swimmers were among the thousands who bathed at Claycastle Beach. Some competed in the 70.3-mile half-triathlon, while others competed in the 226.3-kilometer full race. The 70.3-mile race had to be postponed to Saturday because of Hurricane Betty.
It was moved to Sunday along with the Ironman main event. "We are deeply saddened to confirm the deaths of two competitors," Ironman organizers said in a statement. "During the swimming portion of Sunday's race, security personnel immediately provided medical assistance when they realized the athletes needed assistance.
"We extend our deepest sympathies to the athletes' families and friends and will continue to provide support as they navigate through this very difficult time." Cork County Council also expressed condolences following the "tragic loss" of two participants. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the athlete's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts are with those affected, and at this time we are providing the Iron Man Group and all those affected with much-needed assistance. ”
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