Aussie triathlete Josh Amberger questions continuation of Hamburg triathlon after fatal crash
An Aussie triathlete says a race collision that caused the death of a motorcycle rider was the most horrific thing he’s seen and says he was shocked the event was allowed to continue.
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Australian athlete Josh Amberger says he felt “dirty and disgusted” officials refused to call a halt to the Ironman Hamburg triathlon following a collision that resulted in a fatality.
The driver of a motorcycle carrying a cameraman died on Sunday after colliding with a cyclist participating in the race.
The lead group of professional athletes, including Amberger and former Olympic champion Jan Frodeno, the husband of Australia’s Beijing Games gold medallist Emma Snowsill, witnessed the head-on crash which resulted in the death of the motorcycle driver and hospitalisation of the cameraman and a 26-year-old amateur triathlete.
“It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen and I don’t wish to share any detail on what we saw, other than it (sic) seemed to me that the collision was not survivable,” Amberger said in an Instagram post.
“I expected the race to be neutralised, but it was not.
“I feel dirty and disgusted that we continued to race in these conditions.
“From what I know, we were followed by a cavalcade of up to 18 motorbikes on a narrow road with two way traffic.
“It shouldn’t take someone to lose their life to realise this level of race traffic is no longer acceptable.”
Hamburg police confirmed in a statement there was a head-on collision between the escort motorcycle and an oncoming cyclist, with the driving dying “at the scene of the accident”.
The triathlete involved was “seriously injured” and taken to hospital, while the camera operator received treatment for shock.
German public broadcaster ARD cut off its coverage of the event following the incident, though the race continued.
The stretch of road where the accident happened was “incredibly tight”, Frodeno said after crossing the finish line.
“I was right next to it and saw the bike explode into what felt like a thousand pieces,” he said.
Like Amberger, Frodeno, who had to manoeuvre around the crash, was conflicted about the race continuing.
“It feels gut wrenching to have seen someone die right next to me and unknowingly continue to race, give it my all and fall well short,” Frodeno said in an Instagram post after finishing fourth.
Snowsill said the events weighed heavily on all in the sport.
“Professional sport so often feels black & white, though today it’s significantly shaken a whole community where results aren’t necessarily the forefront of what’s important,” she said in a social media post.
“Hug and hold who you need to.
“Thoughts and prayers to all that witnessed first hand the 3 involved in the accident.
“To the grieving family of the motorcycle driver, words here cannot heal your pain or make sense for your loss.
“Wishing strength and recovery to the athlete & the photographer for a positive outcome of this devastating event.”
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Originally published as Aussie triathlete Josh Amberger questions continuation of Hamburg triathlon after fatal crash
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