Nathan Van Hooydonck is a Belgian professional cyclist who was part of the Tour de France-winning squads in 2022 (video by Aussie17)
“Team Jumbo-Visma rider Nathan Van Hooydonck was involved in a serious car accident in Kalmthout this morning (Sep.12, 2023). The 27 year old cyclist suddenly became unwell behind the wheel and crashed into several other cars.”
According to the police, he suffered a severe heart attack (although it becomes clear from the video that it was a cardiac arrest due to an arrhythmia). His heavily pregnant wife sat next to him in the car. She is unharmed.
How is he alive?
He crashed in front of a Police Station. Officers rushed out and immediately started CPR. Someone went to get the AED (defibrillator), someone gave mouth to mouth, someone did chest compressions.
Does he know why?
“His right ventricle was greatly enlarged…that caused the infarction”
“I was examined in December 2022. There was nothing to see.”
“It’s really too big now. That just caused the cardiac arrhythmia. It is striking that his right ventricle has grown enormously in about nine months.”
“At the moment we don’t know where this comes from. An investigation is still ongoing.”
“But it is striking that there are more cases…”
My Take…
On Oct.27, 2023 I wrote a substack titled: “SUMMER OF DIED SUDDENLY - CYCLISTS - 4 Professional International Cyclists forced to retire due to "cardiac issues" - Many amateur cyclists dying suddenly - May to Sep 2023 - 14 Cases”.
It was a very thorough summary.
Unfortunately there were two more deaths right after I published my article:
Oct.23, 2023 - Hong Kong - 20 year old Mark Groeneveld, a Dutch professional cyclist, collapsed after a race on Oct.23, 2023 and died suddenly of presumed cardiac arrest.
Nov.12, 2023 - Avare, Sao Paulo, Brazil - 23 year old cyclist Victor Lima Duarte had a “sudden illness” during a mountain bike race and died in the hospital
VIDEO - Belgian professional cyclist Nathan Van Hooydonck had a cardiac arrest behind the wheel and crashed his car with his pregnant wife in passenger seat on Sep.12, 2023 - forced to retire (5 min)