Status: 06/04/2023 11:43 a.m
The Ironman in Hamburg has been overshadowed by a serious accident. A motorcycle collided with an amateur triathlete on the bike course. The motorcyclist succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident, police said.
The amateur driver involved in the tragic incident suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Another person, a cameraman on the escort motorcycle, was slightly injured. Both were taken to the hospital. The accident happened on a dike in Hamburg’s Spadenland district.
The race is still ongoing. The ARD decided to cancel the broadcast of the Ironman EM.
“The people involved in the motorcycle accident on the bike course this morning have received medical attention at the scene and IRONMAN is currently working with local authorities to clarify the situation. More information will be released as soon as it is confirmed,” the organizer said in a statement.
Frontal collision
On the dike road, the field is led past each other closely, the athletes and support vehicles meet there in a very small space. The escort motorcycle with the driver and a cameraman as a passenger collided head-on with the cyclist. A rescue helicopter was deployed.
When the field reached the scene of the accident again on the second lap, all triathletes had to dismount and pass the scene of the accident on foot on the dike because the route was still closed.
For the pros, the race in the Hanseatic city is not just about the European title, but also about qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Nice in September.
AUDIO: Fatal accident at the Ironman in Hamburg (1 min)
