Update: Ironman Competitor Dies After Swimming Portion of Race

A competitor in the Ironman U.S. Championship in New York and New Jersey died Saturday after being pulled from the Hudson River in the morning after experiencing signs of distress.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of an athlete at today’s Aquadraat Sports Ironman U.S. Championship,” said Emily Vicker, a spokeswoman for the event in a statement. “The athlete experienced distress during the swim portion of the race, received immediate on-site medical attention and was transported to a nearby hospital."

According to Fort Lee Fire Chief Keith Sabatino who was in charge of the  operations during Ironman, the swimmer was at the last buoy near the completion of the race near Ross' Dock when he went into distress. Two divers and a paramedic jumped in to retrieve him and the swimmer was placed on a rescue boat to be taken to Ross Dock where he was then placed on a backboard and subsequently taken to Englewood Hospital Medical Center. 

The rescuers had to be decontaminated by  hoses as they were covered in "brown muck" according to Sabatino. A  in Tarrytown, NY broke earlier in the week and was the cause of concern with   being discharged into the Hudson River. The Westchester County Department of Health initially  in the river but that  on Friday afternoon.

The cause of death is unknown and an autopsy is planned. No information about the competitor has been released at this time.

"On behalf of all of us in the triathlon community, we mourn his death and send our condolences to his family and loved ones," Vicker added in the statement. 

Roughly 2,500 men and women competed in the race, which includes a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile marathon.