Safety concerns foremost as police probe circumstances surrounding two deaths at Ironman triathlon

Members of the endurance sports community are deep in mourning after the death of two participants at the recent Ironman 70.3 Mossel Bay race. The event took place on Sunday, 16 November 2025, and was won by South Africans Dale Taylor and Kirsten Schut. 

But the exhilaration of those who were able to cross the finish line would have been bittersweet with the announcement that two fellow participants had lost their lives during the gruelling race. 

“Both were taken to a nearby medical facility, where one person was declared dead on arrival. The other man was declared deceased later. An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted later this week. 

“The investigation continues,” said Christopher Spies of the South African Police Service.

The two men, aged 29 and 58 respectively, encountered trouble during the swimming leg of the triathlon, according to organisers. The triathlon consists of athletes swimming, cycling and running. The swimming segment took place at Santos beach.   

“During the swim portion of the event, safety personnel responded to two separate incidents, approximately 15 minutes apart,” said Ironman South Africa in a statement.

“One athlete was extracted at approximately 400m, and the other at around 1,000m. Each athlete was taken to the designated extraction point for urgent medical care, before being transported in individual ambulances to hospital,” it said. 

“Our hearts go out to their families, friends and loved ones. Together with the triathlon community we mourn the loss of two fellow athletes. We will continue to offer our support to the athletes’ families as they go through this very difficult time.”

While the triathlon is a demanding undertaking in its entirety, it’s often during the swimming that people come unstuck. The same happened at the Corporate Triathlon Challenge in April 2025. That event was also facilitated by Ironman South Africa. 

It took place in Gqeberha, and one person died during the swimming leg. At the time, the race organisers also expressed their sympathy. In 2019, also in Gqeberha, two participants died during the swimming portion of another Ironman South Africa triathlon. They suffered a heart attack and convulsions respectively, leading to their deaths. 

This demonstrates that while the assumption is drowning when a triathlon participant dies during the swimming segment, it is not usually the root cause.   

The Ironman South Africa endurance events also draw in a number of different people. From professionals such as Taylor and Schut, to ordinary people who just love pushing their bodies to the limits. It is a risky undertaking for both groups of participants.

Daily Maverick has sent Ironman South Africa a list of questions revolving around its specific protocols when it comes to screening participants. The response will be added to this article if and when it arrives. DM