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Our Port Macquarie pathology staff are regulars at the region’s annual Ironman event, providing instant test results for the medical team and helping competitors make it safely through the grueling race.
Ironman Australia is the longest-running Ironman event in Australia and the 4th oldest in the world, held in the beautiful coastal town of Port Macquarie in May each year.
This year’s event on 5 May attracted more than 2700 athletes who swam, biked and ran the course that took them through the centre of Port Macquarie, the surrounding countryside and along the region’s stunning coastline.
Karen Mewett is the Coordinator of NSW Health Pathology’s Mid North Coast Point of Care Testing Service, which provides vital care at the Ironman medical tent each year.
“I covered both the half Ironman and the full Ironman events, so it was a very long day, 9.30am to midnight!” she said.
“My colleague, Tonia Woodberry volunteered from 4pm to midnight as we are normally much busier in the evening, especially if it’s wet and very cold.
“We normally get more requests after sundown as the athletes can present with hypothermia but although there was some rain, the temperature this year was quite pleasant and a much better outcome that originally expected.
“The main problem this year was not the heat of the day or the cold of the night, but the treacherous conditions on the slippery roads.”
Medical director for Ironman Australia, Simon Ross, said a total of 132 athletes attended the medical tent on race day, with 9 of those transferred to hospital for various reasons.
“Our medical response covered mobile medics on motorbikes, contracted ambulances, two medical tents, static first aid stations, finish line catches and Point of Care Testing.
“The wet weather increased the number of bike accidents but overall, the cooler weather kept numbers lower than in 2023.
“Point of Care Testing plays a significant part of our medical response as it allows real time results that would only be available if we transferred the athlete to hospital.
“This could impact our health system and cause yet another strain on the local hospital.
“Our medical team is well known around the world amongst triathletes. Conversations between athletes praise the medical response we provide and how they all feel safe racing here as they know they are well cared for in the event they need medical assistance.
“We have been nominated as a finalist in the local health district’s upcoming awards under the volunteer of the year category.”
NSW Health Pathology would like to congratulate the entire medical team at Ironman Australia for the care they provide, as well as our awesome Point of Care Testing volunteers!
