The Ironman race in Germany on Sunday was shrouded in tragedy after a motorcycle rider carrying a photographer documenting the race was killed in a collision with one of the race participants, officials said.
Event organizers said a 70-year-old biker collided with a 26-year-old racer about 35 miles into the grueling triathlon race bike course. report. The resulting head-on collision killed the bike rider and seriously injured the athlete.Deutsche Welle (DW), 50-year-old cameraman recording race on motorcycle rushed to hospital for shock report.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a motorcycle driver passed away following a serious medical accident. Our thoughts and care are with the family as they navigate this difficult time,” said the New York Post. We will do our best to support them in the meantime,” said the race organizer.
A 70-year-old man died today in an accident during the Ironman triathlon held in the northern German city of Hamburg.
A motorcycle collided with an athlete riding a bicycle. The incident was broadcast live on television. https://t.co/ydX6gAjqcK
— DW News (@dwnews) June 4, 2023
The newspaper said the accident occurred in a “narrow” part of the race where riders were allegedly racing in both directions as the course was looped. (Related article: Unlicensed teen driver crashes head-on into school bus, four reportedly seriously injured)
“It was a complete farce, incredibly narrow,” fourth-place finisher Jan Frodeno told DW, adding that he witnessed the fatal accident. “I was right next to it and saw the bike shatter into a thousand pieces,” he told the magazine. The accident was reportedly broadcast live on television by the media covering the race.
“I know that such things must always be reported in the media, but the safety of the players should come first,” Frodeno said. According to DW, Frodeno only learned the accident had resulted in a fatality after finishing the race.
DW reported that racers approaching the crash site were forced to dismount their bikes and walk up a roadside embankment until organizers were able to change course.
Despite the fatality, the race went on as scheduled, but German public broadcaster ARD decided to end the livestream as a show of respect for the anonymous victim, The New York Post reported.
