Competitor dies during Wickiup leg of triathlon
45-year-old Washington man suffered unknown emergency
Published: June 30. 2008 4:00AM PST
SUNRIVER — A 45-year-old Washington man died Sunday morning while competing in a triathlon based in Sunriver.
Patrick Findlay, of Renton, Wash., was swimming in Wickiup Reservoir, the first leg of the three-stage race, when he suffered an unknown medical problem and swam to a nearby boat for help, said Sgt. Ronny Dozier of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Volunteers helped Findlay onto a jet ski and took him to shore, where they attempted to resuscitate him.
Emergency personnel from the Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service and La Pine emergency medical technicians were alerted at 9:40 a.m. and responded to the scene, but Dozier said Findlay was pronounced dead before he could be taken to the hospital.
Dozier said he didn’t know if an autopsy had been scheduled.
Officials said they weren’t sure what happened to Findlay during the swim.
“He didn’t make it, that’s all I know,” said Jon Atherton, director of the Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival. Atherton reported that this was not the first time a death or medical emergency has occurred during the Pacific Crest. Last year, a man went into cardiac arrest at the finish line of the triathlon race but survived, according to Atherton.
“What the actual cause is, I don’t know,” Atherton said. “I’m not sure anyone else does, either.”
The Olympic-distance triathlon started with a 1,500-meter swim at the reservoir, followed by a 28-mile bike ride and a 10-kilometer run.
Nearly 600 participants were in Sunday’s triathlon field.
Members of Findlay’s family who were attending the race declined to comment.
“You know what the sad thing is? The athletes out there, they know something happened,” said Atherton. “And it’s like a little fraternity, a little family, and everybody really cares about everybody. And it’s really hard.”
The 12th annual Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival included a series of endurance events and concluded Sunday. An estimated 5,000 runners and multisport athletes participated in the three-day festival.
Katie Brauns can be reached at 541-383-0393 or at kbrauns@bendbulletin.com.
Erin Golden and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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