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A 63-year-old has died after experiencing medical distress while swimming in the aQuellé Midmar Mile on Sunday.
Michelly Rall/WireImage via Gallo Images
- A 63-year-old woman has died after suffering cardiac arrest while participating in the aQuellé Midmar Mile on Sunday.
- A fellow swimmer and rescue personnel responded when she showed distress, and emergency teams performed CPR before transporting her to hospital.
- Despite resuscitation efforts at the dam and at Life Hilton Hospital, the participant died.
A 63-year-old woman has died after suffering a cardiac arrest while participating in the aQuellé Midmar Mile on Sunday, event organisers confirmed.
The participant experienced medical distress while swimming and was found to be in full cardiac arrest after showing signs of difficulty in the water.
The organisers said in a statement on Sunday that a fellow swimmer and rescue personnel stationed at the dam responded immediately when the woman initially showed signs of distress.
Emergency teams initiated CPR before transporting her to shore, where ER24 medics and doctors continued resuscitation efforts.
The swimmer remained in cardiac arrest despite on-scene medical intervention and was transported to Life Hilton Hospital, where resuscitation efforts were eventually terminated, organisers said.
Despite the best efforts of the medical teams both at the dam and at the hospital, she sadly passed away.
“The safety of all participants remains the foremost priority of the event,” the statement said.
The organisers extended condolences to the swimmer’s family, friends, and loved ones and declined to release further details out of respect for the family’s privacy.
“The aQuellé Midmar Mile community stands in support of all those affected by this tragic loss,“ organisers said.
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The aQuellé Midmar Mile, held since 1974, is recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest open-water swimming event, attracting thousands of participants annually to the scenic dam in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
The race covers about one mile (1.6km) across Midmar Dam in Howick, with swimmers divided into groups racing over multiple days to accommodate the huge number of swimmers.
Participants range from elite international athletes and Olympic medallists to recreational swimmers of all ages and abilities.
