Overview

• The 31-year-old from Fraserburgh was seen struggling during the 1.2-mile swim, pulled onto a support boat for resuscitation, treated in a medical tent, and transferred to Morriston Hospital, where he died three days later.
• A post-mortem presented at the inquest recorded exertional heatstroke as the cause of death, precipitating a cardiac arrest.
• Temperatures during the July 13 race reached about 28C during a heatwave, according to event coverage.
• Assistant coroner Colin Phillips opened proceedings at Swansea Guildhall and set the full hearing for March 18, 2026.
• The event followed the Ironman 70.3 format, and reports noted Buchan had no adverse medical history beyond mild childhood asthma and hay fever; his death is the second triathlon fatality in Swansea in three years.