Two-time ironman champion Dean Mercer has died in hospital after a car crash on the Gold Coast on Monday.
Mercer crashed his car into a fence in the suburb of Mermaid Waters around 7am. He is believed to have suffered a medical episode while driving, which led to the accident.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported paramedics worked to stabilise Mercer for around an hour, before he was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
He later died in hospital.
Mercer won two national ironman titles, in 1989 and 1995. His brother, Darren, was also a champion ironman who won the national ironman titles in 1996 and 1997. Darren's daughter, Jordan Mercer, is also a rising star in the sport, having won the national ironwoman title in 2016.
He grew up in Thirroul, just north of Wollongong on the NSW south coast. He later relocated north as he chased surf lifesaving glory, winning five NSW titles among a swag of career accolades. After retiring, he stayed involved with the sport, coaching junior lifesavers at the Kurrawa club on the Gold Coast.
This post has been updated to correctly state Jordan Mercer is Darren Mercer's daughter. A previous version incorrectly named her as Dean Mercer's daughter.