Triathlon Organizers Address Saturday’s Tragic Death At Event
David Creed •
The Nantucket Triathlon organizers released a statement this week addressing last weekend's tragic events where a Connecticut man died while participating in the Nantucket Triathlon on Saturday after being pulled from the water unresponsive at Jetties Beach.
The man was pronounced dead at 8:05 a.m. at Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Triathlon Director Bill Burnett said he and the organizer's "hearts are broken" in the aftermath of the man's passing.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm that a participant in this weekends triathlon experienced a medical emergency during the swim portion of the race and, despite immediate medical attention, tragically passed away," Burnett said. "Our hearts are broken. The Nantucket Triathlon is committed to safety and has been known for organizing high-quality events for over 14 years. We ask that the entire island and all of our athletes stand with and support the family and friends impacted by this tragedy. They need our love and prayers."
The man has not been publicly identified, however the initial triathlon results online included three individuals who did not finish the race - including a Connecticut man and two individuals with the same last name. Those names have since been removed from the list of results.
In a statement, Nantucket Fire Department chief Michael Cranson shared that lifeguards first reported the situation at 7:01 a.m. as the sprint triathlon event was getting underway.
Firefighter/EMTs responded to the beach while lifeguards brought the swimming to shore at 7:05 a.m.
"Advanced lifesaving interventions commenced at 7:07 a.m.," Cranson stated over the weekend. "The patient was stabilized and prepared for transport. Utilizing a lifeguard ATV, the patient was transported to an awaiting ambulance in the parking lot and then transferred to Nantucket Cottage Hospital (NCH) for further medical treatment."
"The Nantucket Fire Department is profoundly grateful for the lifeguards' quick actions and heroic efforts," Cranson added. "Their prompt response and coordinated efforts allowed the patient to be treated and transported to the hospital efficiently."