Medic @ Cairns Ironman 2023

Voted by Ironman athletes as the most satisfying race for 2022, over 2,500 athletes descended on Cairns for the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Cairns 2023. The event brings Cairns to life with thousands lining the streets to support their friends, families and strangers in one of the most grueling endurance sporting events.

The 6am swim start at the beautiful Palm Cove then makes it’s was towards Port Douglas as the cyclists battle the significant coastal winds as they then turn towards Cairns for the final run leg. Battling 30-degree temperatures and 80% humidity the event tests even the most experienced athletes.

The medical stations are set up throughout the course with a large make-shift military style tent at the finish line built in the case of mass casualties. Athletes started finishing just before midday when temperatures started to peak. We saw many cases of significant cramping with athletes being pushed to their limits. Cyclists with abrasions determined to cross the finish line needed patching up of their wounds, all in a day’s work.

When the sun started to set we started to notice more athletes becoming hypothermic, with the warm temperatures causing significant amounts of sweat and the inability for it to be absorbed from their clothing due to the humid conditions, with warm dry blankets being a regular feature. As expected, many of our athletes were treated with exhaustion and significant dehydration as the medical tent started to work overtime.

Overall it was a fantastic opportunity to work with both experienced and inexperienced first volunteers, aid officers, ambulance officers, nursing staff and other medical practitioners to ensure all our athletes got home safety.