Tragedy as rider dies during sani2c mountain bike event

Himeville - A male participant in the sani2c mountain bike race died after suffering a heart attack, race organisers confirmed on Wednesday.

Christo Pieterse from Centurion in Gauteng, aged 39, had completed 48km of the 83km first stage of the three-day adventure version of the event, when he suffered an Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Life support paramedics attended to Pieterse at the scene, before he was taken to Hilton Life hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival.

Glen Haw, sani2c founder and race organiser, commented: “We are devastated about this. It is the first time in the 14-year history of the event that we have lost a life and Christo has done the race five times before.

“He was an experienced rider. We are in contact with the family and send them our deepest condolences.”

Pieterse leaves a wife and two boys aged six and nine.