On Feb 5, 9:18*am, Mike Vandeman wrote:
Evolution in action!

Mike

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post...race-victim-co...

Bike race victim competing with son

SHANE COWLISHAW
Last updated 05:00 06/02/2012

A Wellington man who died of a heart attack during a mountainbike race
was taking part in the event with his son.

James Craig, 53, was in the early stages of the Port Nicholson Poneke/
College Sport Wellington Mountain Bike Championships at the
Wainuiomata Mountain Bike Park when he stopped after feeling dizzy,
then collapsed.

Another competitor stopped and attempted to resuscitate Mr Craig, but
was unsuccessful.

Race organiser Mark Renall said Mr Craig's teenage son, Oliver, was
competing in the junior section.

"I didn't know what he [Oliver] looked like ... it was terrible but I
found him and just told him, 'I've got terrible news, you're father's
died."'

It had been known that Mr Craig had a heart condition but it was
terrible he had died while exercising, Mr Renall said.

"Most of the time mountain biking keeps you fit, but there's always
that one in a 1000 chance."

Family friend Ian Paintin said Mr Craig, who worked in kitchen joinery
and lived in Wellington, had suffered a heart attack about 10 years
ago but since then had taken his second chance and improved his health
through exercise.

With two young children and a wife, he realised he would not get far
in his unfit state and embraced mountain biking.

"Jim was a guy who was really trying to get the best out of life ... I
suspect if he hadn't turned his life around this would have happened a
lot earlier. It's a risk you take. "

I assume you have a point - an individual with a heart condition
undertakes a strenuous activity and succumbs to a cardiac event. Sad
but predictable. He would have suffered a heart attack if he had been
road cycling, running, hiking, speed skating, inline skating, snow
shoeing, nordic skiing, soccer, basketball, tennis, badminton,
handball, swimming, having sex, etc. Any of these activities plus
dozens more stress the heart and those individuals with heart
conditions pay the price if they do not undertake said activity with
the oversight of a doctor - ask the guys that died in the various
marathons around the country each year. Or the numerous weekend
warriors - a couple of years ago at Sharks Ice in San Jose two guys
died playing hockey the same night from cardiac events. They end up
with a few heart attacks each year (not always resulting in deaths,
but some do). So what is your point - mt biking is no more a culprit
for weekend warriors suffering heart attacks then any other strenuous
sport. The take home message, if you are middle aged and unsure of
your fitness and heart health, get checked out before doing any
activity that elevates the HR. Or are you suggesting everyone become
a couch-potato and stalk news group sites like you.