Sporting world mourns death of Ironman great Dean Mercer

THE Australian sporting world is mourning the death of retired Ironman and Surf Life Saving great Dean Mercer, who died in a car crash this morning.

Dean Mercer was killed in a car crash on the Gold Coast. Picture: Gosling Richard

• GALLERY: Remembering Dean Mercer in pictures

AUSTRALIA’S sporting community is in mourning with news confirmed surf lifesaving legend Dean Mercer has been killed in a road accident on the Gold Coast.

The tight-knit surf life saving community has greeted the news with shock while lauding Mercer as one of the “greats” while leaving an “incredible legacy behind.’’

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Mercer, along with brother Darren, was part of one of Australia’s most famous surf sport families with Dean’s wife Reen a former ironwoman champion and Darren’s daughter Jordan a world ironwoman and paddling champion.

Dean Mercer suffered two heart attacks following a car crash at Mermaid Waters.

He died this morning after his car crashed through a fence at Mermaid Waters about 7am. It is believed Mercer had only just returned from his grandmother’s funeral the night before the crash.

“It is with great sadness and grief that we advise that our beloved Dean — loving husband of Reen and devoted father to their four boys Brayden, 13, Rory, 11, Lachlan 9, and Joshua 6, passed away earlier today as a result of a cardiac arrest while driving on the Gold Coast,” a family statement said.

“Dean had been returning home from his regular earlier morning training session with a Masters group at Kurrawa Surf Club — where he is the Director of Surf Sports.

“He was to call in and buy groceries for the family when he suffered a cardiac arrest at the wheel of his car and crashed into a fence on Markeri Street, Mermaid Waters.”

Dean Mercer in action in 1997.

Coolangatta Gold legend Guy Leech paid tribute to a man he described as one of his fiercest-ever rivals.

“The Mercer family is royalty in surf lifesaving. I’m in complete shock,” Leech said.

“He was such a tough nut, so fit, so strong, his personality was tough and strong and he was one of our greats.”

Zane Holmes, one of the greatest ironmen of the modern era, was shattered by the news of Mercer’s death.

“He was one of the most tenacious and toughest people I have ever raced against,’’ Holmes said.

“We had a lot of battles over the years and I had a lot of respect for him.

“My heart goes out to Reen and the kids.’’

Champion ironwoman Candice Warner said if ever she need motivation she would simply watch Mercer race.

Dean Mercer with wife Reen back during their competition days.

“He was so passionate, so tenacious, and a big inspiration to me,’’ she said.

“He was always someone I looked up to. Someone I idolised.

“He was one of the faces of the sport. Everyone knew him. Young boys wanted to be him.

“My thoughts are with Reen, the kids and his family. It is just so sad.’’

Ironman Wes Berg trained alongside Dean when both were based on the NSW south coast.

Both went on to race for more than two decades.

“He was the man you could never stop. The one who just never gave up,’’ Berg said.

“To have one of the hearts of our sport pass away is just so sad.’’

Bergs’ wife, former ironwoman Jade Sutcliffe, said Mercer was revered in the sporting community.

“There was no tougher ironman than Dean Mercer,’’ she said.

Ironman Dean Mercer with his wife Reen and their son Rory (than 11 months old) at Newcastle Beach in 2007.

“He was an incredible racer with such grit and determination. He has left an incredible legacy behind.

“I raced alongside Reen for years and they are a beautiful family with four gorgeous boys.

“It is devastating such a great man, a great athlete and a great dad has had to leave us so soon.’’

Dean was a household name in the hey day of ironman racing and one of the highest profile athletes in both the Uncle Toby’s and Nutri-Grain series.

During his illustrious career Dean won two Australian ironman titles, five NSW championships, two Test of the Toughest titles and the 1997 World Oceanman series.

He also spent thousands of hours as a volunteer patrolling beaches up and down the NSW and Queensland coast.

Mercer started his career as a five-year-old Nipper at Thirroul, south of Sydney.

He retired from top-level competition in 2010.