“WE’LL take extra good care of our athletes”. That’s the vow from organisers of a gruelling triathlon taking place in roasting temperatures on Sunday, June 27 – a month after a competitor died during hot weather in a similar Hampshire event.

The thermometer is set to hit 27C (81F) tomorrow when competitors line up for a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle ride and 26-mile run through the New Forest.

Considered one of the toughest physical tests on the UK sporting calendar, the Forestman race is being staged five weeks after Tim Wilks died in the “Swashbuckler” triathlon event at Beaulieu.

The 52-year-old collapsed with a suspected heart attack amid similarly hot conditions despite desperate attempts by fellow competitors to keep him alive.

But staff at Race New Forest, which is organising the Forestman and was also in charge of Swashbuckler, say the safety of competitors has always been at the forefront of what they do. Extra fluids are being made available and a safety briefing will take place prior to the event.

Co-ordinator Richard Iles said: “The competitors will be looked after as I would expect to be looked after.

“They have done all the training and preparation and by the time they get here, it is up to me to do all the worrying and they can get on with taking part.

“Safety is the be all and end all of the races – we do everything we can do and we had done that before the tragedy struck last time.

“The athlete is always the centre of attention.”

Around 150 fitness fanatics are set to descend on the New Forest for the “iron” distance event.

Extra fluid, including up to 1,000 litres of water is being provided, along with 600 meal bars, 400 bananas and 75 litres of Coca Cola at “aid stations” positioned at mile-and-a-half intervals.

The event starts at 5.30am with three swimming laps of Ellingham Lake – the equivalent of 2.4 miles.

A cycle will then take competitors 112 miles around Linwood, Ringwood and Bransgore.

Then the 16-hour contest is capped off with a marathon finishing at Sandy Balls Holiday Centre at Godshill near Fordingbridge.