Ironman swimmer rescued at Russian River

A swimmer in Sunday's Ironman athletic event at the Russian River needed to be rescued from the water and was rushed to a hospital with an apparently serious medical issue.

The woman was swimming near the bridge at Highway 116, about a half-mile from the starting point at Johnson's Beach when she began suffering some kind of disress.

A volunteer with race said the woman may have had a heart attack.

Volunteers in kayaks patrolling the swim saw that the woman was in trouble and pulled her onto a boat. They got her to shore and began CPR, Scott Wing said.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said the woman was taken by ambulance to Palm Drive Hospital in Sebastopol.

A bike crash of a competitor also was reported later in the morning on Westside Road. Details on that crash weren't available.