Published August 8, 2011 04:28PM
Chicago woman is second competitor to die in the swim portion of yesterday’s race.
The 40-year-old Elmhurst woman pulled from the Hudson River in the swimming leg of the Nautica New York City Triathlon has died, officials said.
The woman died at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital at 3:43 a.m., Chicago time, according to a spokeswoman for the hospital. Her name was not released. The woman was taken to St. Luke’s with what police described as heart attack symptoms.
A 64-year-old New Jersey man also died in the race. Both he and the woman from Elmhurst were part of relay teams, Burke said.
According to the New York Post website, the woman’s name is Amy Martich. Neither Burke nor the hospital spokeswoman would confirm that identification.
To have two deaths “is very unusual,” Burke said.
Police said 26 others were removed from the water needing assistance for minor injuries or pains throughout the swim, which was the first portion of the triathlon. Race director Bill Burke said there were more than 3,000 participants this year.
Read more: Chicago Tribune