A 56-year old Belgian cyclist taking part in the 173km La Canibale Cyclosportive on Mont Ventoux suffered a heart attack while climbing to the summit as reported by La Provence.
Fortunately, an off-duty firefighter and nurse where close by to perform CPR on the rider until paramedics arrived. The rider was then transported via helicopter to an Avignon hospital where he is recovering.
A few days earlier a German rider in his 50’s also suffered a heart attack while ascending Mont Ventoux, but did not survive.
Each year over 200,000 riders climb Mont Ventoux, many in the hot summer months of June – August, where extreme conditions require utmost caution while ascending and descending.
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