Champion ironman and father-of-four Dean Mercer has died after crashing his car into a fence on the Gold Coast.
The 47-year-old’s car crashed on Markeri Street near the Allandale Entrance to the Q Super Centre carpark in Mermaid Waters.
Paramedics said he suffered a medical episode at the wheel moments before the crash about 7am on Monday.
Champion ironman and father-of-four Dean Mercer has died on the Gold Coast at the age of 47
Mercer died after he crashed on Markeri Street near the Allandale Entrance to the Q Super Centre carpark in Mermaid Waters
Emergency services found Mercer in a critical condition and worked on him for more than an hour, an ambulance spokesman said.
He was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition, but he suffered a cardiac arrest in the emergency room and died.
Barry Newman, senior water coach at Kurrawa Surf Club where Mercer was Nippers Coach and sports officer, was shocked by his friend of 30 years’ death.
Paramedics said he suffered a medical episode at the wheel moments before the crash about 7am on Monday
Mercer winning the second Ironman quarter final at the NRMA Insurance Australian Surf life saving titles in 2004
Mercer is survived by wife Reen and young sons Brayden, Rory, Lachlan and Joshua
‘He’s a champion surf lifesaver and the most tenacious competitor I’ve ever met – we were rivals but he was always a good mate,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Mr Newman said there was nothing to suggest he was sick or had any medical condition that could have caused the episode at the wheel.
‘I saw him just last night, he’s healthy for sure. It’s lucky he didn’t hit anyone else with the car I suppose, it could have been worse,’ he said.
Mercer had only returned from his 94-year-old grandmother Jessie’s (right, pictured with her husband) funeral in Wollongong the previous day
Dean’s brother, Darren (R); niece, Jordan (C); and wife, Reen are likewise ironman and ironwoman champions
The retired ironman won two Australian crowns and had a swag of titles to his name, including an equal record five NSW state championships and two Test of the Toughest titles
Mercer had only returned from his grandmother Jessie’s funeral in Wollongong the previous day, where he travelled with his wife Reen and young sons Brayden, Rory, Lachlan and Joshua to farewell the 94-year-old.
The retired ironman won two Australian crowns and had a swag of titles to his name, including an equal record five NSW state championships and two Test of the Toughest titles.
The clan are among the leading lights of the surf lifesaving world. Dean’s brother, Darren; niece, Jordan; and wife, Reen are likewise ironman and ironwoman champions.
He was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition (pictured), but he suffered a cardiac arrest in the emergency room and died