Adventure racer dies
2005-05-05 09:32
Rebecca van der Linde
Pietermaritzburg - Adventure racer Andre Raubenheimer of Johannesburg died while competing in the annual Swazi Xtreme event at the weekend.
Raubenheimer, a competitor in the 250 km Pro event of the annual Swazi Xtreme, is believed to have drowned after completing a technical ropes and canyoneering section.
A search party recovered his body from the Komati River 500m downstream of this section on Sunday afternoon.
Raubenheimer was racing in a two-man team with Ivan Keeley. His wife, Louise, was on his support crew. It was his first major adventure race.
"Just before dark Raubenheimer completed the final task, a 13m jump off a cliff into a deep pool," said race director Darron Raw.
"He came up from underwater and gave a thumbs-up before swimming around the corner to the exit point. This is a very rocky area and he was out of sight from his team-mate and support crew."
The team looked for him at the transition area about 800m away and then searched the banks before alerting race organisers.
"A search was immediately initiated and Raubenheimer's body was recovered 30 minutes later. He was found wearing his life jacket and helmet," said Raw.
- The Witness