'Tragic Coincidence' at a Wisconsin Ironman Race

The mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, expressed her condolences Wednesday following what she called a "tragic coincidence": the deaths of two Wisconsin men who were competing in an Ironman event held in the city. The Ironman 70.3, held Sunday, combines a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. CNN reports Todd Mahoney, 38, and Michael McCulloch, 61, were both pulled from Lake Monona during the swimming segment of the race.

WKOW reports Mahoney, an apparatus engineer who had been with the fire department for 9 years, died 48 hours after being found unresponsive in the water; he leaves behind a wife and three sons, and his cause of death is being investigated. WKOW separately quotes the Medical Examiner's Office as saying McCulloch, of Cottage Grove, died Sunday in a manner "consistent with an accidental drowning due in part to a medical event." He is survived by a wife and daughter. (The Ironman race is worth a staggering amount. One man wanted a piece.)