Age Grouper Dies in Chattanooga

Condolences to the family.

It seems there is at least one IM swim death each year. Usually we find out later that they were an experienced swimmer and maybe had an unknown heart condition, or it was just their time. The thing about the swim is that with the scrum that is the nature of the swim someone in trouble is less likely to be noticed by other racers and get the needed attention. It's sad, but it certainly doesn't deter me from endurance sports.  

QFT

In the majority of these incidents, it seems to be the case that the race was not the cause, but was really just the "trigger".  The cause was an un-diagnosed heart condition.  If it didn't happen during the race, it would have been shoveling snow.

First, condolences to the family and friends of the racer.

Definitely seems to be true in many if not even the majority of cases, from info on posts done.  I do wonder how many are actual drownings, rather than latent cardiac events. 

I took a lung full at the pool about a year ago and thought I was gonna die. Crawled out onto the deck unable to breath and feeling panic rising, and then figured (in that strangely clear way that sometimes happens when $h1t is hitting the rotor) that if couldn't clear my airway myself, I'd probably just pass out and the lifeguard would be able to clear it for me.  Managed to cough out the water in my lung and breathe again after a looooong 45 seconds, but was done for the day! 

The best part was the look on my kids' swim team's faces after, as they were practicing a couple lanes over at the same time! 

I have wondered, though, what would have happened had I mis-timed my breath and done the same thing say at a race start in the middle of the "washing machine."  Would I make it to a kayak?  Could I attract attention?  Has this been the cause of perhaps some of the deaths not explained by a cardiac event (and there have been several - mostly pulmonary findings on post)?

Won't keep me from racing; just an experience that makes me think.  I am curious about how often it happens and why.

Matt