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Richard Iazzetta · San Diego State University
Escape from Alcatraz triathlon.
3-3-2013

Most people think that triathletes are crazy. The "crazy" sentiment was certainly true this weekend as I tackled the difficult Escape from Alcatraz triathlon. The conditions were awful. Constant white capped waves and 51 degree water. About 1/2 mile into the swim, I found a male triathlete floating face down in the water. At first, I thought he was looking at fish, but he was looking too long. I went to him and when I turned him over, it was apparent by the blue tinge to his face that he was in trouble.

By this time, two other athletes came to my assistance and we yelled for help. A kayak came by and we did our best to administer CPR on the thin kayak. I held the body with my left arm and did chest compressions with my right while the female athlete, Calley, held the victims head above the water. The third athlete, Matt, administered mouth to mouth as the victim was not breathing on his own. A white foam spilled from the victims lips and when his lips sputtered we thought he had begun to breath on his own. We realized, however, that the sputtering was a result of the chest compressions pushing a mixture of air and water through his mouth...a cruel tease.

After a few minutes, a motor boat came by and we were able to get the victim in the boat. We continued CPR until the rescue boat came by a few minutes later. The EMT asked for our help and we got the victim on a board, cut his wetsuit off and continued CPR. We'd been administering chest compressions in the boat for about 3 minutes by this time and I noticed that his ears were bleeding from the inside and the foam now flowed constantly from his nose and mouth. Calley noticed his wedding band.

I cleared the foam while the EMT stuck a tube down his throat. He remained unconscious. We transferred the body to the rescue boat and hopped back on the first boat as the rescue boat sped to shore. It was a very strange feeling and I can't explain it, but I wanted to stay with him...I was now invested in the outcome.

The three of us were transferred to a third boat, which was taking athletes that could not finish the swim into shore. This boat was full.

I decided to quit when Calley suggested that we all finish together. It seemed like the right thing to do so we asked the rescue boat to stop and we all jumped back into the water to finish the swim.

We did the rest of the race together very slowly and respectfully.

At about 6pm tonight I learned that the man had died.

My mantra has always been that I will try something so long as the price of failure is not death. But death does not warn us...it doesn't tell us when it will come knocking. I am sure this man did not expect to die today. Perhaps he was unlucky. Perhaps he was untrained. I am not really sure.

I underestimated Alcatraz. It's a brutally tough swim...at least today which was reportedly the toughest conditions in the events history. I trained for this, both physically and mentally. I realized quickly that this would be really difficult and I decided to breast-stroke and relax my mind and body. In fact, my breast-stroke is the reason I found the victim. My head was up, not looking down in the water as it is during freestyle.

I wonder if the victim did the same thing...if he even had a chance. I later heard he had a heart attack. The initial shock of the cold water could have been the culprit or the physical and mental strain of the task at hand. Again, not sure.

I also wonder how many other athletes, after leaping into the frigid waters, realized that they had bitten off more than they could possibly chew. I know many struggled as it was reported that some swimmers were in the water for over 2 hours.

The sport of triathlon is wonderful and its popularity is exploding. But should the sport be open to anybody that wants to do it? This is especially true of the tougher events. St George was downgraded from a full ironman to a half. The weather was too unpredictable. I get it...it's sad for St. George, but smart for the sport.

It still makes you wonder if the extreme sports craze is growing a little bit too fast. It is a tempting line item on many a bucket list. Is it also a bubble ready to burst?

Mt. Everest became tragically over-commercialized. Will extreme sporting competitions follow that same deadly path? I don't know, but I hope somebody with some pull is paying attention.

Today in San Francisco, something should have been done. A very strong warning to the weaker swimmers at the very least. And while a warning before the swim start could have helped , I also know that peer pressure and ego would likely override common sense and sanity. After all, it's "the thrill of victory..."

Many triathletes think they are indestructible and that they can tough it out through anything. I have it and many others do as well. Well, it became shockingly clear to me today that we are not fail-safe. This man had a wife, a mother and father and likely siblings and children.

Sometimes our hubris can have horrific consequences.