Inquest told of efforts to save athlete

A FIT and healthy young father died after a triathlon swim when heatstroke brought on a cardiac arrest in the water, an inquest heard.

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Sam Buchan, 31, travelled almost 600 miles from Scotland to the Ironman event in Swansea when he was pulled from the water by a safety boat.

The event was staged in mid-July during the blistering summer heatwave and temperatures on the day of the race reached above 28°C.

An inquest opening was told the father-of-one was spotted struggling in the water on the swimming leg of the triathlon.

Spectators watched as Mr Buchan was pulled aboard the support boat where he was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

He was then treated in a medical tent before being transported to Morriston Hospital in Swansea where he died three days later.