Swimmer fit before race death: friend

Tony Kelly was "one of life's gems", says a friend. Photo / Supplied

A swimmer who collapsed and died during a cross-harbour swim in Auckland at the weekend was fit and well prepared, friends and family say.

Anthony (Tony) Robert Kelly, a rural postman from Papakura, was pulled from the water early in the 2.8km Sovereign Harbour Crossing race on Saturday after suffering an apparent heart attack.

He is survived by his wife, Annette, and their three daughters.

Friend Warren Strand - who met Mr Kelly while the pair were in the police - described the 57-year-old as "one of life's absolute gems".

Mr Strand said the keen swimmer, surfer and fisherman had done a lot of training leading up to the event. "He absolutely knew what was involved. He had so much ahead of him."

Two of Mr Kelly's daughters and his brother were also swimming in the harbour crossing.

Ocean Swim Series director Scott Rice yesterday extended his sympathies to Mr Kelly's family.

"We had 58 fully qualified Surf Lifesaving NZ lifeguards on the water, alongside a St John Ambulance team including advanced paramedics on site.

"The deceased received prompt attention of the highest order but sadly could not be saved."

Surf Lifesaving NZ chief executive Geoff Barry and St John Ambulance Auckland regional event manager Charlotte Guscott confirmed the safety procedures in place were of the highest level.

Surf Lifesaving will conduct an investigation into circumstances surrounding Mr Kelly's death.

The organisation has dealt with five deaths in open-water swimming events since 2005, a number Mr Barry described as too high.

All five were middle-aged to elderly men. The deaths could be due to a range of factors, but men of those ages often had undiagnosed health problems, he said.

One potential danger could come from the wetsuits used in endurance swims, which act to keep the swimmer warm when their body is trying to cool them down, Mr Barry said.

Surf Lifesaving met Sport and Recreation and Water Safety officials yesterday to consider conducting research into the effects of wetsuits on the body during extreme exercise, Mr Barry said.

"We want to know what sort of information can we give competitors so they go in with a full deck of cards," he said. "We don't want people to stop swimming, so let's make it a little safer for them."

He said he had no concerns about safety at Saturday's race.