Triathlete Dies After Being Found Unconscious in Hamptons Race
The death of Lin Chung, 34, occurred less than two weeks after another triathlete drowned in a nearby incident.
A triathlete has died after being found unconscious in the water during a race in Sag Harbor, New York. Lin Chung, 34, of Queens, was participating in the swimming portion of the Mighty Hamptons Steve Tarpinian Memorial Triathlon on Sunday when he was pulled from Noyack Bay.
Event organizers confirmed the death, stating that a "male athlete suffered a medical emergency during the swim portion." Lifeguards witnessed Chung in distress and immediately responded, with other swimmers assisting to bring him to a paddleboard. A lifeguard performed life-saving measures, including CPR, while additional emergency personnel arrived to provide aid. An automated external defibrillator (AED) was also used.
Chung was transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office is investigating the incident, but officials believe he experienced a medical emergency. Water conditions have not been definitively ruled out as a factor.
This incident occurred less than two weeks after Spencer Korwin, a former Team USA triathlete and father of two, drowned in the Shelter Island Sound on September 2. Korwin, 38, was on a family vacation and disappeared during a morning swim. His body was later found underneath a dock.
Officials have previously noted that open water, with its potential for tides, currents, and boat traffic, can pose risks even to experienced swimmers. The death of Lin Chung has deeply saddened the triathlon community, with organizers extending their condolences to his family and friends.