Fully vaccinated Olympic bobsledder Duncan Pugh has died ‘suddenly’ after his brain exploded, his family has announced.
Pugh, 48, who represented the country at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, suffered a ‘catastrophic brain bleed’ in Perth on January 24.
‘We are heartbroken and simply lost for words,’ his wife McKenzie wrote in an online post.
‘You were the rock of our family and wore your heart on your sleeve. You were so very proud of our two boys, the best dad anyone could have hoped for. You made me feel the centre of your world.’
‘Your passion and determination will forever live on in our boys.’
Dailymail.co.uk reports: Pugh, a former runner and surf lifesaver, debuted on the international bobsled circuit at the European Cup in 2007 after being introduced to the sport by a friend.
Two years later, he won bronze alongside Chris Spring at the 2009 America’s Cup in Calgary, Canada, in the two-man competition.
He made his first Olympic appearance the following year at the Vancouver Winter Games, however, his medal dreams were dashed when he was knocked out of the competition in the first round due to a crash that left him with a concussion.
During the first run of the two-man event, he and pilot Jeremy Rolleston’s sled tipped over, leaving them sliding down the course upside-down.
As they did not finish the race, they were eliminated from more runs, and were forced to withdraw from the four-man sled competition due to their injuries.
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