Two die in the Ironman at Youghal

Suspect the swim didn't get cancelled cause it previously got cancelled two years back. So it was half pr to go ahead with it. Definite questions around it and it feels very off continuing it after two deaths.

The Swim shouldnt have happened as the current is dangerous at the best of times. The man who died in his 60s probably was going to happened but the man in his 40s would probably have been okay only for the whole lot of them were left into the water together rather than delaying the half until 10. He wasn't far from the shore and probably got a kick that knocked him out if less swimmers were in the water he would have be spotted sooner. Also I'm hearing another person has been killed off the bike.

I'll be honest and say I know feck all about the competition bar the basics.

However does personal responsibility not come into it?

It was their choice to train and compete. From what I understand it's very grueling and puts a massive strain on the body between competing and training. Neither of them were "young".

It was also their choice to compete on a day of a storm.

This "culture" of blaming everyone and anyone needs to stop. People need to learn to make their own risk assessment and accept the consequences of that too.

Not really, looking at the Facebook plenty of people were struggling and felt unsafe in the water because of the increased numbers.

Put in Cathal Shaw Ironman youghal into Facebook and have a look at the conditions that people were expected to Swim in. I live in the locality and know how dangerous the sea is in Youghal on a good day the currents are crazy there. It wasn't fit to dip your toes in it today never mind swim in it.

There was a mam called in a nearby beach a few weeks ago on a "calm" day.

My wife and brother in law are volunteering today. My brother in law met his neighbour earlier who is in an awful state as she was on the kayak that found the man in his 40s. So many people in the water with both events together hard to see who was seriously struggling before it was too late.

Surely anyone who wasn't comfortable with the conditions didn't have to partake, it's ironman so it's not meant to be easy, it's very sad but people have a personal responsibility,we can't always blame the organisers etc.

Saw the report on the news and the sea did look incredibly rough. I know people are talking about personal responsibility, but surely the organisers have a responsibility to make sure the event is safe.

Organisers have serious questions to answer here.

Isle of Mann TT. Everest. Ridiculous thread.

BIL did the 70.3 one and said the swim was horrendous. It's not his first rodeo either. He's done full Ironman races previously, some abroad.

His neighbour, who is a member of his athletic club (Fingal), helped to pull one of the men who died from the water. Shocking tragedy. I don't know anymore than that - I didn't want to press him as he understandably was upset.

The 70.3 race was supposed to go ahead yesterday and was postponed to today due to Storm Betty. So both races went ahead the same day.

The Irish Examiner had the names of the deceased on their article about 90 mins ago but I see they've edited it to take them out.

May they RIP.

Sea swimming is risky. The organisers have a duty to take all reasonable precautions to ensure participants safety. The question is … did they take all reasonable precautions in this case? Remember people do die while participating is sporting events every now and then. Even if the conditions were perfect…there still could have been a fatality.

Not sure but I would think after the second person died most sensible organisations would default to "we may have missed a reasonable precaution. Stop the event!" rather than "Ah sure it'll probably be grand, keep going". At the very least most decent organisations would say as a mark of respect and to assist the investigation we are stopping the event.

It would appear these organisers were neither.

Money money money

A triathlon is not like a football match. the event takes place in the sea...across a 90Klm bike route and a 20k Running route. How would you cancel it without putting others at risk of injury?

Jeez

Jeez what? Enlighten us on how you'd stop the event? the cyclists who are already 20k from Youghal..would you tell them to dismount and walk back?

I disagree

The video shows the start of the race.

It was their decision to compete - sure.

However, the organisers charge high entry fees for this event and one expects there to be adequate planning and safety assessment in place.

if the organisers go ahead, then no refunds due - I.e we held the event but you ( the participant) pulled out. This likely pressurises participants to compete.

Failing to cancel, also signals that the conditions are within acceptable safety parameters.

Clearly they were not.

Regardless of swimming ability and individual capability, anybody with any sense, should see that starting a swim in a massive swell with a stone embankment behind is highly dangerous.

Why ?

See below:

• risk of waves pushing you of your feet is hugh
• other swimmers coming behind stand on you / swim over you creating drowning hazard.
• risk of waves crashing you against rocks.
• physical effort of swimming through surf line.
• Visibility is significantly reduced in a swell like this.

All indicators are that the swim should not have happened.

Regardless of whether or not the two deceased participants ( may the RIP) had a medical event or not, this event should not have happened.

The organisers charged fees for their experience in organising this event and they made a bad call today.

Also, interesting to see if Irish Coast Guard were at event - seems to me that maybe the guys standing on rocks were ICG volunteers - be interesting to see if they were involved in the go-ahead approval and if they felt the conditions were appropriate.

I see where you're coming from, but it would be difficult to cancel. Elite athletes would be halfway finished, regular athletes & stragglers mixed between the swim, run & cycle over a large race area.

Due to planned support vehicles & the general strategic support for the event it may have been easier to let it run as planned instead of abruptly pulling everyone off the course & having the logistical nightmare of families picking up runners, cyclists (with no phones) & bikes on small secondary roads, or indeed busy roads, calling swimmers in is almost impossible without dedicated support. So, better to let it run as planned with no plan B in case of the tragic events that unfolded.

I've provided kayak support for loads of these events with my old canoe club & have rescued a good few athletes. These conditions would be difficult.

Looked like a strong shore dump and a high frequency chop. Multiple experienced jet-skiers with surf rescue sleds & one experienced kayaker per five or six swimmers would have been suitable but that's not going to happen, although it might in the future.

Tragic stuff for the families of the two men. My thoughts are with them.