The 73-year-old man suffered a heart attack during the competition. There were no doctors or ambulances at the Olympic venue
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A tragic episode shocked Córdoba this Sunday during a national swimming competition. A 73-year-old swimmer died after suffering a massive heart attack in the Georgina Bardach Olympic pool. The incident took place at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, while a tournament organized by the Cordobesa Swimming Federation was underway.
The death led to strong criticism regarding the safety conditions at the event. A competitor reported that there were no doctors or ambulance on site at the time of the incident. The organization had hired paramedics, but not medical personnel or an emergency service available.
According to the venue rental contract, meanwhile, the Córdoba Sports Agency requires organizers to guarantee health coverage. The agreement specifies the obligation to provide medical assistance, either with professionals or mobile units. In this case, this provision was reportedly only partially fulfilled.
Córdoba durante una competencia nacional de natación. Un nadador de 73 años falleció tras sufrir un infarto masivo en la pileta olímpica Georgina Bardach.
No notice to Cosedepro
Meanwhile, the Provincial Sports Security Council (Cosedepro) reported that they were not notified about the competition. That body oversees the safety of sporting events and requires the mandatory presence of at least one ambulance. The lack of notice prevented any type of prior supervision or inspection.
When asked about it, the president of the Cordobesa Swimming Federation, Rubén Bustos, admitted that he was unaware of the regulation. "I just found out from you that we must request authorization from Cosedepro for a pool competition," he publicly acknowledged. The statement caused surprise and criticism within the sports community.
Bustos explained that the Federation understood that only events considered risky, such as open water competitions, had to be reported. "Pool sports are very low risk; that's why we didn't request it. I confess: I didn't know," he told the media.
El hecho ocurrió en el Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, mientras se desarrollaba un torneo organizado por la Federación Cordobesa de Natación.
Regulations and responsibilities
Cosedepro clarified that the rules apply to all organized sports activities, regardless of the type of venue. According to the regulations, organizers must inform about any event at least five days in advance. The notice allows for coordination of controls and verification of the presence of minimum medical resources.
Sources close to the agency emphasized that compliance with these provisions aims to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred. The absence of an ambulance and professionals at Kempes exposed an evident failure of institutional coordination. The investigation will seek to determine whether there was omission or simply a lack of knowledge of the rule.
So far, the Federation has not issued an official statement beyond the remarks of its president. Meanwhile, the Córdoba Sports Agency avoided making comments until the results of the preliminary report are known. The incident has reopened the debate about responsibility in organizing events with the public and senior athletes.
Desde el Consejo de Seguridad Deportiva Provincial (Cosedepro) informaron que no fueron notificados sobre la competencia.
