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Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Tragedy as Scots ironman athlete, 31, dies during triathlon in Wales
The Swansea coroner revesled the victim was from Scotland before the inquest was opened into the death RACE TRAGEDY Tragedy as Scots ironman athlete, 31, dies during triathlon in Wales Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOT has died during the swimming leg of a gruelling triathlon in Wales aged just 31. Sam Buchan travelled more than 400 miles from Scotland to compete in the Swansea Ironman triathlon on Sunday July 13. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 SWANSEA, WALES - JULY 13: Athletes gather at the waterfront ahead of the swimming leg during the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea on July 13, 2025 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo byfor Ironman) He had to be rescued from the water in the swimming leg and died three days later in hospital. The Ironman event included a 1.2-mile swim in Prince of Wales Dock, a 56-mile bike course through the coastal roads and countryside of Gower, and a 13.1-mile run along the Mumbles. It follows the tragic death of grandfather Andrew Ireland, 61, of Bridgend, South Wales, in 2023 when he drowned during the 750feet swim in the first section of the gruelling three-part race. Mr Buchan was named by the Swansea coroner before an inquest is due to be opened - but it was not disclosed where about in Scotland he was from. Ironman Wales said: "It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of an athlete who competed in last weekend's Ironman 70.3 Swansea triathlon. "Approximately half-way into the swim portion of the race, swim safety personnel noticed and responded to an athlete in difficulty. "The athlete received immediate medical care while being taken via boat to a designated extraction point on the harbour, where further treatment was administered." Their post continued: "Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the athlete." Around 1,500 competitors set off for competition before both athletes and families witnessed attempts to rescue the grandfather. Mr Ireland was described him as a 'loving husband, father and grandfather who will be greatly missed' after he died two years ago. The Sun victory against illegal migrants working as delivery riders He was among hundreds of other swimmers when he lost consciousness during the swim section of the three-event challenge At the time a statement from Activity Wales said: 'It is with heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of an athlete during the swim section of today's Triathlon. 'Our most sincere condolences go out to the family. 'We would like to thank the incredible efforts of the swim safety team, St John's, Ambulance, the rapid response team, the police, volunteers and members of the public involved at the scene.'
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Athlete dies after competing in gruelling British Ironman event
Ironman Wales said the athlete received immediate medical care during the swim section of the Swansea race on Sunday 13 July, and died after four days in hospital An athlete has died after competing in an Ironman triathlon event, organisers have confirmed. The race, which took place on Sunday in Swansea, Wales, saw the competitor get "into difficulty" during the swimming section. The as-yet unnamed contestant's death is the fourth inside two years following the demanding UK event. They received immediate medical care and were taken to hospital, but in a statement Ironman officials confirmed on Wednesday that the athlete had died. It read: "It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of an athlete who competed in last weekend's IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea triathlon. Approximately half-way into the swim portion of the race, swim safety personnel noticed and responded to an athlete in difficulty. "The athlete received immediate medical care while being taken via boat to a designated extraction point on the harbour, where further treatment was administered. The athlete was then transported to the hospital where they continued to receive treatment, but sadly passed today. "Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the athlete. We will continue to offer them our support and keep them in our thoughts as they go through this challenging time. We are deeply grateful to the swim safety personnel and first responders who worked quickly to provide the athlete with medical assistance." It follows the tragic death of grandfather Andrew Ireland, 61, of Bridgend, in 2023 when he drowned during the 750feet swim in the first section of the gruelling three-part race. Around 1,500 competitors set off for competition before both athletes and families witnessed attempts to rescue the grandfather. Each year, thousands take part in the popular triathlon. Competitors embark on a 1.2-mile (1.9km) swim at the Prince of Wales Dock, followed by a single-loop 56-mile (90km) bike ride. The cycling route takes athletes through Mumbles and along the coastal clifftops of Gower, before heading out into rural Swansea and then back along Swansea Bay into the city. They then return to Swansea, preparing for transition in the Maritime Quarter next to the River Tawe. Finally, participants tackle a 13.1-mile (21.1km) two-loop run course that leads them from the city centre, past Swansea Arena, towards Mumbles and then back to the finish line at the marina. In 2023, two men died while taking part in an Ironman triathlon event in Co Cork, Ireland. The men, one aged in his 40s and the other in his 60s, died in separate incidents during the swimming segment of the triathlon held in Youghal. The men were pulled from the water by emergency services before being pronounced dead by medical personnel. One of the participants is understood to have suffered a medical emergency in the harbour at the end of the swimming leg of the race. Gardai believe there was no foul play and are treating the deaths as a tragic incident. A spokesperson said: "Gardai and emergency services are currently attending the scene of an incident in Youghal Co. Cork where two men have died at a sporting event this morning. Two men, aged 40s and 60s, were removed from the water by emergency services. "They were pronounced deceased by medical personnel. The coroner has been notified. The organisers had decided to move the swim course further into the harbour and shorten it because of bad weather conditions."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Final day of the 2025 legislative session
The 2025 legislative session is coming to an end, and the Indiana Capital Chronicle team will be chronicling its last day here. (Getty Images) The 2025 legislative session is coming to an end (hopefully within the next 24 hours!), and the Indiana Capital Chronicle team will be bringing you everything from the final day here. 39 mins ago 39 mins ago As the legislative session enters its final hours, tweaks and overhauls alike are coming rapid-fire. Indiana's retired public employees are likely to nab pension bonuses intended to boost benefits that don't otherwise keep up with inflation — but with a 5% cut — under a final draft for House Bill 1221. That's after a finance-focused Senate committee cut the 13th check and 1% cost-of-living-adjustment entirely. House lawmakers, however, sought years of bonuses. Elsewhere, several contentious provisions were dropped from less-controversial underlying legislation. But some authors are hoping to re-home them. It appears a ban on sleeping or sheltering on public property has been removed from Senate Bill 197, prompting rumors it would be inserted into legislation dealing with juvenile justice. But the final version of that bill is still outstanding. Another prohibition, this one on government-supported 'obscene performances,' wasn't in a conference committee report filed on Senate Bill 326. But that report was quickly withdrawn and is still in flux. Asked where the language might go, Rep. Andrew Ireland, R-Indianapolis, told the Capital Chronicle, 'I don't know any better than anyone else.' And detailed language cracking down on illicit massage parlors was cut from the negotiated draft of House Bill 1416, which would require human trafficking awareness posters in gas stations and rest stops. Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, repeatedly called it too 'prescriptive.' Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, authored the language after law enforcement raided parlors in his district. He told the Capital Chronicle that he aims to find a new place for a recast version that offers local governments greater decision-making powers. Last updated: 9:05 AM
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Obscene performances' public funding ban moves forward
Rep. Andrew Ireland, R-Indianapolis, introduces a bill barring public entities from funding 'obscene performances' on March 31, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A bill that left the Senate with near-universal support picked up a 'barnacle in committee,' as one House Democrat put it last week, leaving the House on a 71-20 vote Monday. The House additions widen the scope of the underlying bill beyond an effort to replace a criminal term throughout Indiana code to include a focus on obscene performances. As originally written, Senate Bill 326 would have replaced 'child pornography' with 'child sex abuse material,' acknowledging that children are being sexually abused in such images. But a House committee added a new provision: barring government entities from using public money to fund, organize or host 'obscene performances.' 'Obscene performance' ban added to child abuse bill, official misconduct expungements weighed A House floor amendment, which moved largely along party lines, also added a method of enforcement by allowing people to sue Indiana entities for alleged incidents. 'Language shapes the way we understand and confront these issues and the term child pornography is not only inaccurate, it minimizes the horror of the crimes committed. Pornography implies a level of consent and children cannot consent,' said House sponsor Rep. Andrew Ireland. '… we're taking an important step to save our Hoosier children.' The Indianapolis Republican said the language regarding obscene performances would ensure 'that public funds are never used to support the exploitation of children.' Defining something as obscene has to meet a high bar, known as the 'Miller Test.' That work must be based on an average person's reaction and consider the entire work, not just an isolated portion. But critics maintained that such performances aren't happening, noting there are already penalties regardless of someone's government affiliation. 'More and more this General Assembly is taking itself to an alternate reality where it legislates against problems that don't exist,' said Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington. 'We create a strawman and then we knock it down and 'Look at us! We really solved that problem!' 'The problem never existed. But it appeals to somebody out there, so we do it now.' Ireland didn't cite specific instances of obscene performances using taxpayer dollars on Monday nor in his testimony last week when he introduced the penalty language. It also doesn't limit such legal action to only Indiana residents, meaning that, according to Pierce, 'any person in the universe can sue your local government when they're offended by somebody and try to make an argument that it's obscene.' Pierce was one of the committee members to advance the bill, noting the high bar to meet the state's obscenity standard, which he dubbed a 'barnacle' on the House floor last week. In addition to the Miller test, a litigant would generally need to prove they have been harmed by obscene performances — a barrier meant to tamp down on frivolous lawsuits. But Pierce said the language eviscerates that and says 'we don't care if they're harmed or not. We don't care if they have a direct injury.' Municipalities may still need to spend their dollars defending themselves from such accusations, which could include plays, poetry and drag shows. 'Keep in mind, anybody involved in this supposed obscene performance that local government might be funding can already be arrested and imprisoned under our current (law),' Pierce continued. 'I would think the fear of going to prison would keep local officials from going into the smut-peddling business.' Ireland agreed with Pierce that such obscene performances 'have never occurred and I hope never occur … in part, thanks to this bill.' 'This is nothing new under the sun,' concluded Ireland. The final vote tally split both parties, though only Ireland and Pierce spoke on the measure. It now goes to the Senate, which must vote to accept or reject the House amendments before the bill can advance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
