Saskatoon woman dies during triathlon in Kelowna, B.C.

Friends and family are mourning after a Saskatoon woman, 57, died during a triathlon over the weekend.   

Noreen Wensley, a local music teacher and piano player, was taking part in the swimming portion of the Cherry Blossom Triathlon in Kelowna, B.C. when she went into cardiac arrest.

In a Facebook post written from Wensley’s perspective, family members described how it happened.

“I had a beautiful final day on earth. This was the last photo taken with my family before my heart stopped and I went into cardiac arrest in the eleventh lane of the swim,” the post reads, showing a photo of Wensley prior to the race.  

Kelowna RCMP said emergency crews responded to a report of a drowning at the H20 Centre on Gordon Drive shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday.

According to police, life guards quickly pulled the woman from the water and immediately began CPR.

She was rushed to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

In the same online post, Wensley’s family wrote the 57-year-old died surrounded by people who love her.

“My children are devastated, but I’m looking down on them with beaming pride to have been their mother. I am thrilled that my life had been full of friendship, colour, laughter, music, and travel; there was never a dull moment.”

It goes on to say a celebration of life will be planned for Wensley in the near future, and asks for privacy to mourn in the meantime.

Kelowna RCMP continue to assist the BC Coroner’s Service in their investigation.