IT was supposed to be a perfect race. The weather was perfect for an IronMan event. Colorful vintas loaded with drum-pounding youngsters and thousands of cheerers lining the streets lent a festive atmosphere.
But still, the 2017 Cobra IronMan 70.3 race took on a tragic turn yesterday when a male relay participant vanished and died of apparent heart attack while doing the swim leg for the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) Multi-Sports Team.
Race marshals and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard said Eric Nadal Mediavillo, 46, married, of City of San Pedro, Metro Manila asked for their assistance while doing the swim leg.
Mediavillo was the third athlete to die in Ironman.
The first was Juan Miguel Vasquez during the inaugural outing of Ironman in Camarines Sur in 2009. Like Mediavillo, Vasquez also died during the swim course.
The second was Ramon Igana, Jr. who died of pulmonary embolism during Cebu’s first hosting of the three-in-one sporting event in 2012.
They were able to pull him out of the water and bring him to the Mactan Doctor’s Hospital where he was declared dead at 9:47 a.m. by attending physician Dr. Daquipa.
Initial investigation conducted by PO3 Joseph Ruel Cutanda of the Homicide Division revealed that at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Mediavillo was seen waving his hand and asking for help while in the seawaters of the Shangri-La’s Resort and Spa.
Paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf) immediately applied first-aid treatment on Mediavillo before transporting him to the Mactan Doctor’s Hospital.
PO3 Cutanda said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of Mediavillo’s death.
Police investigators also reported seeing Mediavillo’s wife in the hospital premises. She, however, refused to grant an interview.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our athletes following the Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu...Our condolences go out to the athlete’s family and friends whom we will continue to support," reads the statement from the organizers.
Meanwhile, Sunrise Events Inc. founder Fred Uytengsu said in an ambush interview that they are still finalizing plans of extending financial assistance to Mediavillo’s family.
Mediavillo’s colleagues at the PMMA also refused to issue any statement.
Based on Mediavillo’s Facebook page, he was a ship captain of the Eagle Star company in Manila and has traveled around the world.
Determined triathlete
Martin Ilagan, a friend and Mediavillo’s long-time bike fitter, was also in shock.
“I was really shocked when I saw his picture on Facebook which was shared by my friends along with the shocking news of his death,” Ilagan said.
Ilagan revealed that Mediavillo had been into triathlon for many years and always kept himself fit.
According to Ilagan, Mediavillo was a determined triathlete and a very nice guy who trained hard whenever he had a race.
“We always talk about his triathlon experience because he’s been to a lot of places to join races. He looked fine. In fact we were joking when we met before the race at the expo where I wished him good luck. We even agreed to meet after the race,” said Ilagan.
Ilagan owns a triathlon-related company in Manila named Forward Motion.
Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/142411/perfect-ironman-marred-swimmers-death#ixzz4rsgYcSrY
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
But still, the 2017 Cobra IronMan 70.3 race took on a tragic turn yesterday when a male relay participant vanished and died of apparent heart attack while doing the swim leg for the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) Multi-Sports Team.
Race marshals and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard said Eric Nadal Mediavillo, 46, married, of City of San Pedro, Metro Manila asked for their assistance while doing the swim leg.
Mediavillo was the third athlete to die in Ironman.
The first was Juan Miguel Vasquez during the inaugural outing of Ironman in Camarines Sur in 2009. Like Mediavillo, Vasquez also died during the swim course.
The second was Ramon Igana, Jr. who died of pulmonary embolism during Cebu’s first hosting of the three-in-one sporting event in 2012.
They were able to pull him out of the water and bring him to the Mactan Doctor’s Hospital where he was declared dead at 9:47 a.m. by attending physician Dr. Daquipa.
Initial investigation conducted by PO3 Joseph Ruel Cutanda of the Homicide Division revealed that at around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Mediavillo was seen waving his hand and asking for help while in the seawaters of the Shangri-La’s Resort and Spa.
Paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf) immediately applied first-aid treatment on Mediavillo before transporting him to the Mactan Doctor’s Hospital.
PO3 Cutanda said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of Mediavillo’s death.
Police investigators also reported seeing Mediavillo’s wife in the hospital premises. She, however, refused to grant an interview.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our athletes following the Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Cebu...Our condolences go out to the athlete’s family and friends whom we will continue to support," reads the statement from the organizers.
Meanwhile, Sunrise Events Inc. founder Fred Uytengsu said in an ambush interview that they are still finalizing plans of extending financial assistance to Mediavillo’s family.
Mediavillo’s colleagues at the PMMA also refused to issue any statement.
Based on Mediavillo’s Facebook page, he was a ship captain of the Eagle Star company in Manila and has traveled around the world.
Determined triathlete
Martin Ilagan, a friend and Mediavillo’s long-time bike fitter, was also in shock.
“I was really shocked when I saw his picture on Facebook which was shared by my friends along with the shocking news of his death,” Ilagan said.
Ilagan revealed that Mediavillo had been into triathlon for many years and always kept himself fit.
According to Ilagan, Mediavillo was a determined triathlete and a very nice guy who trained hard whenever he had a race.
“We always talk about his triathlon experience because he’s been to a lot of places to join races. He looked fine. In fact we were joking when we met before the race at the expo where I wished him good luck. We even agreed to meet after the race,” said Ilagan.
Ilagan owns a triathlon-related company in Manila named Forward Motion.
Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/142411/perfect-ironman-marred-swimmers-death#ixzz4rsgYcSrY
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
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