Death by swimming - Open water deaths happening again thissummer!

I hate drowning stories especially when the people who drowned were skilled or were suppose to know what they were doing.

Coroner: York County man drowned during Harrisburg triathlon Sunday:

The individual was declared to have died by way of a pre-existing medical condition. This could have been avoided if the athlete knew before hand via a thorough medical examination.

Next, the distance was short, less than a 1000-yards. That's barely a warm-up for most of us but a formidable swim for 50% of the triathletes doing that sport.

I did the Ironman in Kona a million-years-ago and I had to have a resume of accomplishments to be accepted into that race. I do not think it would be unreasonable for triathlon directors to expect and/or demand some swimming experience via Masters Swimming.

From The PA Patriot News:

... Reed was taken to a local hospital after he was pulled from the water around 7:30 a.m. Sunday and was later pronounced dead.

On Sunday, a representative from the coroner's office said it did not appear Reed had drowned, but that he had a pre-existing medical condition. When prompted about that today, a county spokeswoman said the coroner would not elaborate, citing medical privacy laws. ..." 

[Link]