Med student dies after Dam to Dam run

Heatstroke presumably caused the death of a 24 year old participant in the Dam to Dam run. Guido Vroemen, doctor of the Triathlon Association and team doctor of OrangeCycling, says that heatstroke can happen to anyone, but it is exceptional. After the finish in Zaandam, Red cross staff took the victim in because he was very pale and sweating, Het Parool reports. The victim was a medical student at UVA. Cees Pronk of Le Champion, organizers of the Dam to Dam (16.1 kilometers) says that the victim was still able to communicate with them. "At the medical station we found that his temperature was 42.6 degrees. They tried in vain to resuscitate him." When suffering from heat stroke, the body struggles to lose sufficient heat through the usual ways. "Because of this high temperature protein cells in the body clots, causing irreparable damage." says Vroemen. With increasing temperature the body usually tells you to slow down by decreasing performance. Dizziness and not being able to see well are also symptoms. It helps to drink something and to cool yourself down by rinsing your limbs with cold water. Another runner who became unwel in the IJ tunnel is still in the hospital.