Emergency services responded to a sudden death at a fitness center in Auckland’s Parnell on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred at the Next Gen Auckland Domain gym on Tennis Lane.
A spokesperson for the gym stated that they “couldn’t comment at the moment.”
According to police, officers were called to the scene shortly after 11 a.m. following reports of an unresponsive individual. Despite the efforts of first responders, the person was pronounced dead at the scene. The police will conduct inquiries on behalf of the Coroner to determine the cause of death.
This tragic event comes just three days after another serious incident at the Olympic Pools and Fitness Centre in Newmarket, Auckland. Two boys were left in critical condition after being pulled from the pool.
The family of one of the boys explained that he was trying to touch the bottom of the pool, which is five meters deep, when he failed to resurface.
“We can confirm that our son, a regular at the Olympic Swimming Pool, was swimming to touch the bottom of the pool and did not surface,” the family said in a statement. “Our son was not practicing free diving, and he was not deliberately holding his breath underwater.”
Both incidents have raised concerns about safety measures at fitness centers and swimming facilities in Auckland. Authorities are expected to review protocols to prevent future occurrences.