Vineman 70.3 Participant Pulled From River Dies

An experienced triathlete who was pulled from the Russian River during Ironman 70.3 Vineman on Sunday has died.

San Mateo, Calif. resident Margaret Hinsdale Pometta, 50, died at Sebastopol’s Palm Drive Hospital on Monday evening, a day after she went into cardiac arrest during the first event in the three-part race that includes swimming, cycling and running for a combined 70.3 miles.

Pometta had no history of heart disease, and family members still have no idea what caused her heart to fail, said her sister Therese Block, of Chicago.

“She’s done triathlons in Hawaii, everywhere,” Block said. “We’re shocked. Shocked.”

Pometta, who started competing in triathlons about 10 years ago, participated in the Vineman 70.3 last year and did a practice swim along the Russian River course two weeks ago, family members said.

“She was adequately trained for this,” said her brother-in-law, Lee Block, who competed in Sunday’s Vineman with her. “There’s no doubt about that.”

Read more: Pressdemocrat.com