A man died while participating in Sunday’s 9th Annual Escape the Cape Triathlon and Open Water Classic, officials confirmed to NJ Advance Media.
The man, a Wilmington, Delaware resident who was more than 70 years old, was taking part in the swimming portion of the event at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday when he went into “apparent cardiac arrest,” authorities said.
“The athlete had nearly completed this classic race portion of the Escape the Cape Triathlon when he was spotted in distress by lifeguards near the swim finish,” said James E. Salmon, a spokesman with the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
The man, who was not identified by officials, was taken to the beach in Lower Township near David Douglass Sr. Memorial Park where emergency medical service personnel tried to resuscitate him, Salmon said.
“He was transported in an on-site ambulance to Cape Regional Medical Center,” Salmon added. The triathlon participant was ultimately pronounced dead.
“I’m heartbroken,” Stephen DelMonte, CEO of DelMoSports LLC, which organized the event, said in a statement. “DelMoSports and USA Triathlon lost a member of its beloved community, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
This year’s triathlon drew about 1,400 participants, Salmon said.
The endurance event, which kicks off with a 12-foot jump off the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, includes cycling, running and swimming. Salmon did not immediately clarify which series of events the man had participated in or had completed at the time he required medical attention.
Salmon noted that all safety precautions were followed during the event “as the health and safety of athletes are both DelMoSports and USA Triathlon’s foremost priority.”
The medical examiner is expected to perform an autopsy, he added.
An off-duty firefighter died in 2019 while competing in the triathlon.
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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @stevenrodasnj.
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