Two die in the Ironman at Youghal

Maybe?

I think there were about 1500 entrants in both events and the entry fee was about €600. There's no one entering this on a whim.

In contrast, the Dublin marathon gets well over 20k entrants.

The number that took part is more like 3000 so it's more like a little over twice the average overall which isn't a huge outlier. It is a bit worse looking at swim only, 0.5 per 3000 vs 2 deaths at this event. As tragic as it is, this isn't something new or unique.

EDIT: Looking at the actual race results, it's just shy of 1900.

Just checked the results, about 600 in the full and 1200 in the half, so 1800 total

The staggering was a **** show also. Last year there was a visible delay and approx 6 athletes released at a time with maybe 5s between. It seemed to be a free for all this year and when they clearly saw athletes being pushed back from the waves they should've halted entry and increased delay times.

In saying all this though it was one person that died from suspected drowning while in the water, the other had exited the swim when he collapsed.

Agee with posters re water cover seemed to be lacking but I have taken part in many of these races and open water races and I wouldn't know where to begin with organising swim safety. I also don't think I've ever paid any attention to the swim safety team prior to the race.

Next years entries are due for release this week I think so it will be interesting to see what IM do. I think it may be the end of the event for Youghal which would be a shame as the local crowds are phenomenal.

Could they not just move the swim in to the bay? I'm not familiar with conditions in there TBH but I have to assume it's more stable/predictable due to it not being as exposed as the section along the boardwalk. Making an announcement that the swim will be there might help allay fears. It would be a pity to see it end. Youghal have had such rotten luck with it since they got it between COVID and awful weather some years. Despite that, there's been a great buzz about the area the last 2 years with it. The tragedy yesterday will dampen that mood a bit for next year, so IM need to navigate this carefully and with respect in order to keep support.

To be completely honest when I heard the two people died, my first thought was at least they died doing something they love and had a passion for. Not many people can say that.

It's very hard to understand why the competition wasn't stopped, or moved to less dangerous location.

I've only seen footage online but from what I've seen, the conditions don't look that bad. Waves don't look that big or powerful. More just a choppy, onshore swell. Obviously I can't see what the currents and tides were like and no idea if there was any sort of undertow. However, if you weren't experienced swimming in those conditions because all your training was in a pool or calm seas, it would be challenging.

From what I've seen, a lot of people who take up triathlons as adults come from cycling and running backgrounds. Swimming is their weakest discipline and nearly all the training they do for it is in a pool. I have no idea if that's the case with these 2 men. Just adding my 2 cents.

While its tragic that 2 people lost their lives, I think continuing the event was the right call.

for people who participate in such events, maybe there's a consensus that if a fatality occurs, that the show shud go on,.

I dunno - not into such events myself

Not sure how comparable your example re:GaelForce - There are inherently far greater risks and potential risks with a sea swim versus running/climbing, including increased cardiovascular work/stress, risk of being struck/kicked by a fellow competitor, greater isolation/ inaccessibility from rescuers monitoring and getting to a distressed participant, less liklihood of a fellow competitor assisting, they have enough to do to manage themselves.

There was another point made elsewhere regarding revenue intake for such events, that monies are rarely refundable to competitors thus a decision to cancel the competition has no relationship to money. I don't agree. A substantial amount of money was taken in for this event from competitors. An organisation as experienced as was involved here would be very aware of potential reputational damage ( perceived or otherwise) should the event not take place. The pressure to proceed with the 2 events simultaneously on Sunday would have to be significant, especially considering many customers had their event postponed from the day before.

I don't think the event continued because "Ironman are too macho" for it to stop. I did the Dublin Marathon in 2006, and unfortunately a runner died of a heart attack during it. There was no talk of stopping the race because of it, and no talk afterwards that it should have been stopped out of respect. It was just viewed as what it was, a tragic event.

It's one thing stopping an event in one location (like a track meet) because of a medical emergency, but it's another thing entirely to do so when the event is spread out all over a town or city. The logistics would be a nightmare to do that. And I'm pretty certain even at football matches there have been cases of spectators having medical emergencies and dying in the stands, and the game isn't stopped, even though it would be easy to tell everyone in the ground that the match has been abandoned.

Of course, it's one thing having a medical emergency at an event like this, it's an entirely different conversation if someone has died due to a safety issue with the race, and other participants in the race might still fall foul to that same safety issue. But as of yet we don't know what happened here, so we don't know if either of these two tragic deaths were due to safety issues/fault from the organisers, or some other reason that the organisers had absolutely no control over, and wouldn't be expected to have control over.

1. There was a red warning on that coast on Friday night

2. The most turbulent waves are along the shoreline

3. It's a long open water sea swim on an exposed Atlantic shoreline, come prepared in terms of knowledge and skill for that

4. It was cancelled Saturday morning

Considering all of that if you are unaware of possible hazardous conditions Sunday, you have no business turning up

It was cancelled Saturday morning.

So by running it Sunday morning, that sends the message to competitors the conditions are deemed safe enough to run the event.

It's not the case the organisers let the competitors make the decision regardless of risk.

The key question is what criteria did the organisers use to make that determination and did they follow correct safety protocol. Or indeed, are there any - I assume there are some criteria.

Two things

Should the race have been stopped when 2 people died?

If I died during an event, I wouldn't want the event to be halted/postponed/cancelled.

What good is that for me or my family?

Also, I would have known the risks when I signed up for an Iron Man. This isn't a parkrun.

I also would have known how much training everyone has put in. Let them complete the race

Should the swim ever have taken place?

As a seasoned sea swimmer, and water safety advocate, the video of the start line looked like bad conditions.

But, I also know that videos can be deceiving. Everyone taking part in a full iron man, or 70.3 iron man should be extremely comfortable in open water. If they are not, they're putting themselves, and others at risk, and shouldnt be taking part

From talking to someone who did the Iron Man yesterday, the first 200m were difficult, but once you got through the waves, conditions were much better.

I think they probably should have staggered the swim a bit more, if thy thought it was safe to go ahead.

I'm wrong, the AAIU did produce a report on the helicopter crash

In Nov 2021

This would be my thoughts too, if the worst were to happen to me at an event, i would hate for other competitors to be forced to stop. By all means if they wanted to pull up so be it, but would hate for the plug to be pulled due my demise.

To disagree is perfectly fine but you entirely missed my point presumably as you were so busy trying to make your point about another thread.

What reports? As you later mention your interest in awaiting the organisers position. The reports you await will be investigations by the Garda and I assume the HSA and also the organisers.

I'm not sure you have added anything here on than a random opinion to contradict mine and to be honest these are the kind of posts I find pointless.

I should say I'll await the reports now. I have heard enough opinion and rumour on culpability from both participants/former participants/spectators and of course the most vocal the arm chair experts.

Jesus that's damming

I'd feel for Johnny Wallnutt now. IM are certainly going to be looking for a scapegoat here.

Yep my thoughts also, I can't see the benefit in such a strong statement unless IM have apportioned blame to TI behind closed doors. IM are no fools and this could well blow back on TI. TI either sanctioning the races or they're not and at a minimum I hope they have all of their paper work in order.