A FIREFIGHTER died while taking part in his first triathlon in Majorca, an inquest has heard.

Father-of-four Carl Cavanagh, a crew commander with Heathrow Airport Fire and Rescue Service, had been swimming in the Challenge Peguera event when he got into difficulty in October 2019.

The married 45-year-old from Wimborne was pulled from the sea and attempts were made to resuscitate him on the beach, Dorset Coroner's Court was told.

Coroner Brendan Allen, who presided over the hearing at Bournemouth Town Hall on Tuesday, concluded the death was natural, despite the precise cause remaining unascertained.

Mr Allen, noting Mr Cavanagh had been "extremely fit" and had trained for 12 months ahead of the event, said: "From the evidence I have heard he was understandably nervous about the weekend, but I have not heard evidence that he was anything other than fully prepared to take part."

The coroner also heard statements from other competitors who said sea conditions on the day were at the very least, challenging.

"Mr Cavanagh got into difficulties during the swim," said Mr Allen. "The evidence I have in relation to what happened in the water is hearsay evidence, but it seems likely that he was initially recovered by one of the paddleboarders who were there as part of the safety contingent, before being taken to shore on a jet ski, where attempts were made to resuscitate him."

Despite efforts Mr Cavanagh was pronounced dead on the beach on October 19, 2019.

Giving evidence, Elizabeth Cavanagh, who had travelled to Majorca to support her husband, said he had been anxious about the swimming leg, particularly as conditions were not good.

"He had his usual cheeky, happy smile, but you could see underneath that he was anxious," she told the court.

Mrs Cavanagh described her husband as "the life and soul of every situation" and said "everything he did was for his family."

A post mortem took place in Spain, then in the UK when Mr Cavanagh was repatriated.

The pathologist in the UK was unable to determine a cause of death.

However, following his examination – and after Spanish authorities finally gave access to their findings – the pathologist was able to rule out drowning, trauma, and the use of any legal or illegal drugs or alcohol as contributory factors.

Zoe Taylor, an intensive care nurse and wife of a fellow competitor, was among those who assisted lifeguards at the scene, before Spanish paramedics took over.

From her evidence, Mr Allen said it was more likely than not that Mr Cavanagh had suffered some kind of cardiac event.

The court heard a fire service fitness test completed by Mr Cavanagh four months before his death showed him to be "A-one fit".