Updated: Sept. 26, 2021 5:35 pm.
George R. Hall, a local lawyer, died during the Augusta Ironman 70.3 Sunday morning, according to partners with Hull Barrett, where Hall was a partner.
“The untimely loss of our dear friend and law partner is heartbreaking. George was as fine a man as we have known. He was devoted to his wife Margaret and their two grown sons and was filled with joy on the arrival of his granddaughter earlier this year. He held many positions of leadership at Reid Presbyterian Church,” said attorney David Hudson.
Hall graduated from Presbyterian College in 1983 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina in 1986. According to his biography at the Hull Barrett website, he successfully tried more than 120 cases over his career. He has served as a mediator and arbitrator in more than 300.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death and an autopsy is scheduled for this week. The investigation is ongoing.
IRONMAN released the following statement:
“We are incredibly saddened to confirm the death of a race participant at the IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta. The athlete received immediate medical attention upon swim safety personnel being alerted of the distressed athlete during the swim portion of Sunday’s race. We share our greatest sympathies with the family and friends of the athlete and will continue to offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time. We thank the swim safety personnel and first responders who worked quickly to provide the athlete with medical support. In respecting the family and athlete’s privacy, we will have no further comment.”
Updated: Sept. 26, 2021 3:00 pm.
Richmond County Coroner, Mark Bowen, has confirmed that at least one male died during the Augusta Ironman event Sunday morning.
Eyewitness accounts stated that CPR was administered on the rescue boat while still in the water. Another source stated that it appeared CPR was being performed on a victim while in the ambulance.
No name has been released at this time.
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Original Story: Sept. 26, 2021 12:32 pm.
Two competitors were rescued from the swimming portion of the Ironman 70.3 competition Saturday morning.
Mayor Hardie Davis Jr., who was in attendance, confirmed rescue teams were on the scene but was unsure of the swimmers’ conditions.
“All I know for sure is that we pulled two people out of the water,” Davis said.
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Eyewitness accounts including that of Mike Adams, photographer with The Augusta Press stated that one of the swimmers was being given what appeared to be CPR in an ambulance near the boathouse where the swimming portion of the race transitions to cycling.
Brian Graham with the Augusta Sports Council said he had no information on the status of the individuals.
The event was expected to bring roughly 3,600 athletes for the competition that includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run.
Water rescues are not uncommon with Ironman events.
At an Alberta Lake Ironman on Aug. 2, 2021 a 47-year-old Ontario man drowned according to a Global News story.
In 2019 two men died after the swimming portion of a Madison Wis. Ironman according to NBC News.
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