from the PacMasters Update Email
Ross Shoemaker, RIP
1942-2007
Ross Shoemaker died suddenly at the Senior Games following one of his swims. Ross had collapsed on the deck, and was not able to be revived. It is a terrible loss - Ross was a longtime member of the San Mateo Marlins, a warm and supportive man, and a devoted swimmer with an encouraging word for everyone.
Ross coached at Chabot Junior College for many years. Services are pending.
I don't think I need to point out the frequncy with which these unfortunate events have been occuring recently. Should active swimmers be getting stress echos or something as they get older? Are simple BP and lipid screens simply not enough?
Parents
Former Member
Kenneth Cooper wrote a book about the demise of Jim Fixx. Fixx had occasional chest pains and other symptoms that should have led him to do a stress test which would have indicated coronary problems which would have led to an angiogram which would have led to a balloon (no stents then) procedure or a by-pass surgical procedure. The question here is if the afore mentioned persons had any previous complaints. We might not know the answer. Sometimes, the first time there is a noticeable heart attack it is fatal. Fixx had 80 to 90% blockage of all of his coronary arteries. When he had his fatal heart attack he was doing an easy run, jogging away before a conference. This casualty at the marathon swim would not be the case where the victim was swimming all out, as he was experienced and would have been swimming at a level to maintain for hours his effort. I wouldn't put too much hope in defibrillation. That procedure is very specific and does not apply to most cardiac arrests. "Take us gently into that still night...." billy fanstone
Kenneth Cooper wrote a book about the demise of Jim Fixx. Fixx had occasional chest pains and other symptoms that should have led him to do a stress test which would have indicated coronary problems which would have led to an angiogram which would have led to a balloon (no stents then) procedure or a by-pass surgical procedure. The question here is if the afore mentioned persons had any previous complaints. We might not know the answer. Sometimes, the first time there is a noticeable heart attack it is fatal. Fixx had 80 to 90% blockage of all of his coronary arteries. When he had his fatal heart attack he was doing an easy run, jogging away before a conference. This casualty at the marathon swim would not be the case where the victim was swimming all out, as he was experienced and would have been swimming at a level to maintain for hours his effort. I wouldn't put too much hope in defibrillation. That procedure is very specific and does not apply to most cardiac arrests. "Take us gently into that still night...." billy fanstone
