The latest on the Save-the-Bay swimmer who died over the weekend

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

Boston businessman Frank Wuest was quite an accomplished open water swimmer. In fact, this was his 5th time competing in Save-the-Bay.

56-year-old Wuest just finished third in the Buzzard Bay open swim and was well known in the New England swimming community.

According to Jamestown police, Wuest likely suffered some sort of medical emergency during the race.

He was treated by EMTs on scene and quickly removed from the water after it was determined he was in distress.

He was later pronounced dead at Newport Hospital.

Save-the-Bay organizers spoke with ABC6 saying they are devastated by Wuest’s death and describing every swimmer as a member of the Save-the-Bay family.

“Every year I do the swim as well and I see friends I haven’t seen in a year. This is how we get together every year for this celebration and I think this is true of all our swimmers, which is what makes this such a great event. People plan on it all year long. And to have something like this happen is tough. It’s really tough on everybody,” said Save-the Bay President Jonathan Stone.

Event organizers tell ABC6 that, in the 40 years they have been holding the swim, this is the first serious medical incident that they have had.

Officials do not believe Wuest drowned, but are awaiting autopsy results for an official cause of death.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016