S'porean man dies of cardiac arrest at Bintan obstacle race

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean man died from cardiac arrest at the Bintan Reebok Spartan Race on Saturday (Nov 19), after he was found unconscious.

Mr Syed Mohamed Yusof, 37, was taking part in the 21km category of the two-day obstacle course race in Bintan, according to a statement from Mediacorp, which partnered global obstacle race company Spartan Race for the event. The 21km race is described as the most difficult of the three race categories, and comprised more than 30 obstacles, such as rope and wall climbs. 

The statement said medical personnel performed emergency resuscitation on Mr Syed after he was found unconscious. They took him by ambulance to RSUD Raja Ahmad Thabib Tanjungpinang, the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7.25pm. Doctors established the cause of death as cardiac arrest.

Organisers have informed the family and arranged for them to be brought to Bintan. A moment of silence was observed for Mr Syed on Sunday morning, before the flag off for the second day's races.

Mr Syed is understood to be single and working in a technology company. Arrangements have been made to bring his body back to Singapore,  accompanied by family members and Ms Jessie Sng, Head, of the Men, Women and Parents Segment, the unit at Mediacorp in charge of the event.

Ms Sng was quoted saying in the statement: “We are deeply saddened by Mr Syed’s tragic and untimely death. Our thoughts are with his family and we are rendering every assistance to them at this very difficult time."

Bintan Reebok Spartan Race is the third race that Mediacorp and Spartan Race have teamed up to organise since November 2015.

Over 3,000 participants, mostly from Singapore, had registered for the races held on Saturday and Sunday. Over 1,500 participants completed the 21km race on Saturday.