Man dies at start of Alcatraz triathalon

SAN FRANCISCO A 46-year-old Texas man died of an apparent heart attack Sunday in the frigid waters of the San Francisco Bay just moments after the start of the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, race officials said.

"We have reason to believe the gentleman suffered from a massive cardiac event as he entered the water and began the swim," race officials said in a statement.

The race was held three months earlier than in previous years and in far colder waters, but organizers said the temperature did not contribute to the death.

"Was it colder than normal? Yes. But in my opinion, the water temperature was not a factor at all in this tragedy," Bill Burke, the race's director, told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The gentleman obviously had a heart condition he was unaware of."

In all, the newspaper quotes Burke as saying, rescuers pulled about 150 competitors from the swimming leg of the race, more than triple the normal number.

The Chronicle also quotes him as saying the race was moved up this year because of conflicts with the America's Cup, and will return to June next year.

Organizers said the death was the first in the 33-year history of the event, which begins with a 1.5-mile swim from the island home of the former federal prison. The swimming portion is followed by an 18-mile bike ride and an 8-mile run through Golden Gate Park and along the San Francisco coast.

The race had participants from around the world ranging from 13 to 80 years old. The winner was Javier Gomez of Spain.

The triathlon's water safety team noticed the man in distress shortly after the start of the race, the statement said. They performed CPR while pulling him to shore and after reaching land, but he could not be revived.

The unidentified man, from Austin, was pulled from the water and CPR was performed, but he could not be revived.

"What happened today was very, very sad," Burke said. "It underscores that athletes need to be checked carefully by a cardiologist before pushing themselves."