Renton man dies during Oregon triathlon

A Renton man participating in a triathlon in central Oregon died of a heart attack Sunday during the swim portion of the event, his family said Monday.

Patrick Findlay, 45, was in the Wickiup Reservoir around 9:40 a.m., starting the first leg of the Pacific Crest Triathlon.

That's when he felt something was wrong, said his father, Donald Findlay, of Gig Harbor.

The seasoned triathlete swam to a boat operated by an event volunteer and asked for help, police said.

Findlay, who was on the Peninsula High School swim and water-polo teams during the late 1970s, soon lost consciousness, said Sgt. Ronny Dozier, of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

Findlay was doing the triathlon with his sister-in-law, who was waiting for him at the water's edge, said Cristina Walters, his younger sister.

She was wondering where he was. "This should have been the strongest part of the triathlon for him."

Instead, assistants lifted him onto a Jet Ski and rushed him to the boat ramp, Dozier said. Once on shore, he was given CPR, which continued until medics arrived.

But they were unable to revive him.

Donald Findlay said the family is stunned by the news and described his son as athletic and in "perfect condition."

"He swam for years. He had no fat. He was in great shape, just tall and lean," his father said.

Patrick Findlay, his wife and their two children were on a family vacation in Sunriver, Ore., where the triathlon was held, his father said.

His son had participated in numerous athletic competitions over the years — a motivational tool to stay in top form, he said.

"He loved sports," Donald Findlay said. "He coached his son's baseball team and his daughter's soccer team. He was a tremendously generous person."

Sonia Krishnan: 206-515-5546 or skrishnan@seattletimes.com