CEBU, Philippines - Ramon Igaña, Jr., the relay participant of the Ironman 70.3 event last Sunday, died of acute pulmonary embolism.
Sunrise Events Incorporated, through its general manager Princess Galura, released the result of the autopsy yesterday.
“Despite the resounding success of the recently concluded Ironman 70.3, there was a fatality involving, 44, Cebuano, and relay participant on the bike segment. The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was acute pulmonary embolism leading to his bike fall. The entire Ironman community expresses its deepest sympathy to Ramon’s family and loved ones,” Galura said.
According to Wikipedia, pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream.
Sportsman Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez,Jr., the man who convinced businessman-sportsman Wilfred Uytengsu to bring Ironman Philippines to Cebu, has requested media and the rest to look at the bigger picture on the benefits this international event brings instead of focusing on the death of one participant.
While Rodriguez is sympathetic to the Igaña family, he said, it is also an eye-opener for the rest of the athletes to be responsible enough and be well-prepared for the grueling battle.
“We have proven that we can do it. We can host the Ironman.Except for the death of one participant, we got no other complaints. We didn’t get any complaints from the motorists or commuters. Cebuanos showed support while others cheered for the athletes,” Rodriguez told The FREEMAN yesterday.
Cebu’s inaugural hosting of the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines had 1,700 participants coming from 31 countries.
The visiting participants also brought with them several members of their family and friends not only to cheer for them during the event but also to tour around Cebu, a big boost to the tourism industry.
Rodriguez said, each participant of the Ironman Philippines were made to sign a waiver upon registration.
While submission of a medical certificate was not required, the waiver states that participants assume full responsibility for any risk including possible injuries, incapacity or death as well as property damage during the race.
“Even if we require medical certificates, there’s always a way to find means to produce one even if their doctors do not give them the go signal,” Rodriguez said.
Like the death of one participant during the inaugural staging of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, Igaña’s death in the bike segment of the relay event last Sunday was “part of the game”.
It was a risk he took and that the unfortunate incident should serve as a “warning to newbies”.
“It is not called Ironman for nothing. As much as possible, be more careful. Conditioning-wise, dapat ready jud. Tan-awn nimu imu lawas ug kaya ba. Dili ti-aw ang Ironman. Imagine, relay ra to siya (Igana) ha, unsa na lang kaha ug sa individual,” Rodriguez said.
The road condition according to Rodriguez, who is into cycling himself, was good enough for the bike event of the Ironman especially the road in Talisay City where Igaña fell off his bike and hit his head on the gutter.
Rodriguez is a licensed mountainbike commissaire of the world’s governing body in cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale, an official of Philcycling and in the Triathlon Association of the Philippines.
However, none of the entities mentioned are part of the Ironman Philippines since it is being franchised by Sunrise Events Incorporated from the World Triathlon Corporation.
“We didn’t get any complaints on the road conditions either. If someone complains on bumpy roads, then they can just do indoor cycling,” Rodriguez said.
Even big time athletes, celebrities and politicians joined the event.
Among them were Formula One Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button who competed in the entire battle and placed third under the 30-34 class.
Piolo Pascual and Tessa Prieto were among other celebrities who did the relay and were the designated bikers of their respective teams.
For those who want to join the future Ironman Philippines action and other grueling triathlon events, Rodriguez’s advice is to join as many short races as possible before joining a 70.3 mile swim-bike-run event and they have to be very fit physically. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil /Caecent No-ot Magsumbol /Jessica Ann R. Pareja/ Niña G. Sumacot and Christine Emily Pantaleon, USJR LIACOM INTERN /MBG - THE FREEMAN