21 August 2023 , 13:24
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Two men died after competing in an Ironman competition on Sunday in Ireland as locals paid tribute to the pair.
A 64-year-old Canadian was named locally as Ivan Chittenden from Toronto who was taking part in the event with friends. The second man who died was Brendan Wall, originally from Co Meath but living in Solihull.
The Canadian man, Ivan Chittenden, was a dedicated runner who had only recently retired from a 40-year career with a major global professional services company. He enjoyed travelling to international half-marathon and marathon events and was a regular competitor in events like the Boston Marathon.
The men had been taking part in the swim portion of the event, held in Youghal, County Cork, when they both separately found themselves difficulties. They were removed from the water and pronounced dead by medical personnel.
Post-mortems are due to be carried out today as investigators try to piece together what happened in Youghal yesterday morning. Cllr Sinead Sheppard of Fine Gael was in Youghal to cheer on her husband Eamonn, who was participating in the event.
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She said that she heard of the separate deaths of the men halfway through the day. She added: “It’s just so sad because no one ever thinks it is going to be them. You are holding your family a little bit tighter.
"The swim was well over and we were in the cycle section when the news got around. Everybody is absolutely shocked.
"Thousands of people come out for an event like this. The atmosphere is normally so joyful. It is a bit quieter now. People are celebrating but at the back of your mind you are thinking somebody has lost their life.” reports CorkBeo.
Cllr Sheppard, who hails from Cobh, said that most people who completed the event had mixed feelings about how to celebrate once the news of the deaths came through.
“You just think to yourself I am here with my family today on what is meant to be a celebration but all you can keep thinking about in the back of your head is that there are other families here that thought they were going to be celebrating and now there is tragedy. I can’t even believe it.
"For their families, we are thinking of them. The atmosphere is a little bit flat. Of course, it is because everyone is thinking that it could have been their families in the water.”
One competitor, who declined to be named, said that he heard fellow participants shouting for help from the water but that he didn’t realise the extent of the tragedy which had occurred until he completed the event.
Meanwhile, Stephen Lynch from Bandon in West Cork took part in the full Ironman event and found out about the fatalities afterwards.
“When you are in the race you don’t realise (anything is happening). It could have been anybody. I suppose it was challenging going out (at the start of the swim). It was okay the rest of the way.
The swim started here (on the beach). The tide was in and (we) went out at an angle to an orange buoy so we were facing the waves. So that was a difficult part. It (what has happened) is hard for the people organising it too."
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Mr Lynch was competing in his second Ironman event. He was delighted to finish it and said that it was a “challenging” day.
“What happened to those men is desperately sad. There was a guy telling me that they were at an event like this in Lanzarote and it happened over there. The water can be unforgiving.
"It is a fantastic event. The crowds coming in. The atmosphere is electric. So it was sad this happened.”
Irish couple Aoife and Nigel Travers, who are now based in Perth, but are originally from Castleknock in Dublin participated in the event.
Nigel said that when deaths occur in Ironman events “it is usually in the swim.” He said that he knew of a person dying in an Ironman event in France a couple of weeks ago and that the believed that there was a fatality at a similar event in Germany. The couple extended their condolences to the families of the deceased.
The swimmers were among several thousand competitors who entered the water at Claycastle Beach. Some were competing in the 70.3 mile half triathlon whilst others were taking part in the full 226.3 km full race.
The 70.3-mile event had to be postponed on Saturday in the aftermath of Storm Betty. It was rescheduled for Sunday along with the main Ironman event.
In a statement, the organisers of Ironman said that they "were deeply saddened to confirm the death of two participants."
"During the swim portion of Sunday's race, safety personnel provided immediate medical attention upon recognising the athletes were in need of assistance.
"We share our greatest sympathies with the family and friends of the athletes and will continue to offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time."
Cork County Council also offered its condolences following the “tragic loss” of the two participants.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of the athletes at this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected, and we are currently offering every assistance required to the Ironman Group and all those impacted.“