Ironman legend Dean Mercer dies after crashing car through fence on Gold Coast
THE family of ironman legend Dean Mercer have broken their silence after he tragically died this morning following a crash on the Gold Coast. Witnesses first to the scene reveal what they saw.
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THE family of ironman legend Dean Mercer have broken their silence after he tragically died this morning following a car crash on the Gold Coast.
“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,” the 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.”
Paramedics raced to the scene and worked on Mercer, 47, but he suffered another cardiac arrest upon arrival at Gold Coast University Hospital.
Mercer’s wife and former ironwoman Reen had to tell their boys the heartbreaking news after collecting them from school.
“Dean was an amazing husband and loving father who loved nothing more than sharing his and Reen’s love of life and love of the surf,” the statement said.
“Along with older brother Darren, the Mercer brothers Dean and Darren became synonymous with surf lifesaving and ironman racing through the 80s, 90s and 2000s.
“A two-time Australian open ironman champion in 1989 and 1995, Dean Mercer will be remembered as the little bloke with the heart of Phar Lap.
“No surf was too big and no opponent too tall as he tackled the biggest and best in the business from his early days in Austinmer and Thirroul before making his move to Maroochydore and Mooloolaba and then to Northcliffe and finally to Kurrawa.
“He will go down in history as one of Australia’s greatest ironmen who represented both NSW and Queensland and wore the green and gold of Australia.”
Witnesses first to the scene have revealed what they saw when Mercer ploughed his SUV through the back fence of a property on Barrier Reef Drive that backs onto Markeri Street at Mermaid Waters at about 7am.
The owner of the property, who asked not to be named, said moments after the crash witnesses came forward saying they followed the driver out of the Q Super Centre carpark and across at least four lanes of traffic before watching him plough straight through the fence.
“It was 10 to seven. I heard a loud bang, I went outside and I see a car in the front of my property.
“I went out the back, saw the car in the backyard, ran inside, got my wife out of bed and said ‘there’s a car in the backyard’.
“There were already two witnesses there that followed him out of the carpark, the Q Centre.
“Straight away we rang the ambulance … he was just laying there.”
The former Sunshine Coast and Thirroul local from one of the most well-known families in surf life saving relocated with wife, former ironwoman champion Reen Corbett, to the Gold Coast five years ago where they linked up with Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.
The couple’s four young children are nippers at the club where Dean took up a position as surf sports director.
Close mate and Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club senior water coach Barry Newman said his phone ran hot after the crash this morning and said he was shocked to hear the news.
“I was with him last night,” he said.
“I picked him up with the family at Coolangatta airport.
“He’d been down (in Sydney) for his grandmother’s funeral.
“It’s all very fast.
“I’d hate to think (how Reen is) … it’s just not a good day.”
Mercer’s wife Reen is understood to have visited the scene of the crash before heading to Gold Coast University Hospital to be with her husband this morning.
One of the sport’s most decorated stars, Mercer was famously dogged in his determination to win an elusive Coolangatta Gold, continuing to compete in the endurance epic in to his 40s.
Growing up in the small NSW town of Thirroul, near Wollongong, Mercer had a 40-year involvement with surf life saving.
Mercer won two Australian crowns, an equal record five NSW state championships, two Test of the Toughest titles and the world Oceanman Series.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate expressed his sympathy.
“Dean Mercer’s passing is a sudden and tragic loss for our city. A husband, father and former ironman champion, Dean was an idol in the surf life saving world,” he said.
“The city’s thoughts and prayers are with Dean’s wife Reen and their family during this extremely difficult time.”
Devastated to hear Dean Mercer, surf lifesaving legend & absolute top bloke passed away suddenly this morning. Thoughts are with his family
— Robbie McEwen (@mcewenrobbie) August 28, 2017
Heartbreaking news #rip Dean Mercer thoughts go out to your family and loved ones!
— Jess Schipper (@JessSchipper) August 28, 2017
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