Search
shop

Race winner Kyle Smith offers condolences as men who died at IRONMAN 70.3 Ireland named

The men who lost their lives at IRONMAN 70.3 Ireland on Sunday have been named as Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

New Zealand long course pro Kyle Smith, the winner at IRONMAN 70.3 Ireland last weekend in Cork, has offered his condolences to the friends and families of the two participants who tragically died during the swim portion of the middle distance event on Sunday.

Ivan Chittenden, from Toronto in Canada, was named as one of the victims, with the 65-year-old having decided to participate in the event whilst on holiday in Ireland. The second victim, 44-year-old Brendan Wall, was originally from Ireland and had travelled over from his home in Solihull, England to compete.

Both men were pronounced dead after being removed from the water and safety personnel having provided immediate medical attention upon recognising the athletes were in need of assistance.

“As a triathlon family we lost two of our own”

Smith, who finished his first race since May as he took the win this weekend, shared his support for the loved ones of those who lost their lives at the event in County Cork, describing the incident as one that affected the entire “triathlon family”.

“My deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of the two athletes who passed away. As a triathlon family we lost two of our own at the event,” he said.

The tragedy, which took place during the swim portion of the race, is currently being investigated, with a post-mortem being carried out. The race, which was meant to go ahead on Saturday, was pushed back 24 hours due to debris left on the bike course by Storm Betty.

On Sunday morning, the swim start was again pushed back due to the conditions and the IRONMAN race was reduced to a 1.9km swim leg, the same as the middle distance. Videos circulating on social media, show strong winds and choppy conditions off the coast, where the swim took place.

IRONMAN and IRONMAN Ireland are yet to issue a statement or further information on the tragic accident after confirming the deaths yesterday.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Challenge Sardinia location
Let’s race… Challenge Forte Village Sardinia
Are calf sleeves actually worth it for triathletes? How many watts aero calf compression sleeves could save you
Laura Siddall Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2023
PremiumAre we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
Is sports nutrition bad for you? Ultra-processed foods are under siege, and athletes are caught in the cross fire – but should we be worried?
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
The ultimate city break triathlon race-cations: from Challenge Barcelona to Singapore T100 these are the best city centre races to combine multisport with sightseeing
latest News
Stornes Iden Blummenfelt IMWC Nice podium 2025
IRONMAN World Championship Nice 2025: Full finishing order and DNF details including Magnus Ditlev
Sam Laidlow back stretch IMWC 2025 Nice
Sam Laidlow reveals what brought him to a swim standstill at IRONMAN World Champs
Casper Stornes Kristian Blummenfelt Gustav Iden IRONMAN World Championship in Nice 2025
IRONMAN World Championship Nice results 2025: Stornes leads HISTORIC Norwegian clean sweep
Casper Stornes wins IRONMAN World Championship in Nice 2025
WATCH AGAIN: IRONMAN World Championship 2025 from Nice as Norway dominate
Sam Laidlow IRONMAN World Championship Nice 2025 run
IRONMAN World Championship 2025: Swim struggle that left Sam Laidlow with mountain to climb in Nice
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...