A 43-year-old man competing in the Ironman triathlon died Saturday afternoon after having a medical problem during the swimming portion at the Hudson River.
Officials said the competitor "experienced distress" during a 2.4-mile swim in the Hudson River at the start of the all-day competition.
The swimming portion of the triathlon course ran along the New Jersey shoreline, just north of the George Washington Bridge.
The unidentified swimmer was pulled out of the water and rushed to a hospital in Englewood Cliffs but was pronounced dead at the hospital. The NYPD said the contestant's name has not yet been released.
In a statement, officials offered their condolences:
"We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of an athlete at today's Aquadraat Sports Ironman U.S. Championship. The athlete experienced distress during the swim portion of the race, received immediate on-site medical attention and was transported to a nearby hospital. The cause of death is unknown as we await autopsy results. On behalf of all of us in the triathlon community, we mourn his death and send our condolences to his family and loved ones."
Participants in the triathlon continued after their swim in the Hudson with a 112-mile bicycle ride through the suburbs, and finished with a 26.2-mile marathon that concluded at Riverside Park in the Upper West Side.
Jordan Rapp, a winner of multiple Ironman titles, won the race in an unofficial time of 8 hours, 11 minutes and 18 seconds. Mary Beth Ellis was the female winner with a time of 9 hours, 2 minutes and 48 seconds.
The death of the contestant Saturday marks a string of fatalities in triathlon competitions in recent years, especially when it involves swimming in the Hudson River.
Two people died in 2011 during the swim portion of the Nautica NYC Triathlon and a man died during the NYC Triathlon in 2008.
There have been five deaths around the country in two months and in 2011, USA Triathlon, the governing body for the sport, created a task force to examine the fatalities.
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Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who represents New York City, said he will resign June 20 amid a sexual harassment scandal and run for a City Council seat.
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Powerball's estimated jackpot has soared to a record $600 million dollars for Saturday's drawing because of brisk sales across the states involved in the lottery.
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