Dean Paul Mercer OAM (24 November 1969 – 28 August 2017) was an Australian sportsman who competed in ironman events.[1][2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Paul Mercer |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | 24 November 1969 Bulli, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 28 August 2017 (aged 47) Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | Ironman surf lifesaving |
Career edit
Mercer was born in Bulli and raised in Thirroul, both suburbs of Wollongong.[3] Early in his career, Mercer and his brother Darren were coached by their father, John.[4] Mercer became a professional ironman at 15 and competed from 1987 to 2010. He won the Australian open ironman titles in 1989 and 1995,[2] and five New South Wales championships. In 1997 he won the World Oceanman series.[2] He competed in his last Coolangatta Gold aged 40.[5]
In 1992, Mercer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for "service to surf lifesaving",[6] and in 1990 was inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions at Sydney Olympic Park.[2]
At the time of his death Mercer was director of surf sports, and nippers coach, at Kurrawa Surf Club at Broadbeach, Queensland a position he held since October 2014.[5][7]
Private life edit
Born on 24 November 1969 to Maureen and John Mercer, Mercer grew up in Thirroul, New South Wales.[8][9][2]
Mercer married Kaylene Costello in 1998.[10]
In 2003, he married Reen Corbett, an ironwoman competitor in her own right.[11] They later had four boys.[5]
In 2013, a magistrates court ordered Mercer to repay almost $700 after stealing bedsheets from a department store. No conviction was recorded.[3]
Mercer died after suffering a cardiac arrest while driving at Mermaid Waters on 28 August 2017.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Profile: Dean Mercer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 February 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Koubaridis, Andrew; Matthey, James (28 August 2017). "High profile former Ironman Dean Mercer dies on the Gold Coast". news.com.au. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Former ironman Dean Mercer in court over pinching sheets". sunshinecoastdaily.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ Condon, Matt (9 October 1988). "Ironmen fight for top honour". The Sun-Herald.
John Mercer, father and coach of the Mercer brothers...Undoubtedly the pressure will be on 20-year-old Darren Mercer, of Thirroul, south of Sydney, to defend his title. He and brother Dean, 18, have trained harder than ever.
- ^ a b c d "Former Ironman Dean Mercer dies in car crash on way home from training". ABC News. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ "Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) entry for Mercer, Dean Paul". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
OAM/Aust Day 1992 (General Division. For service to surf lifesaving
- ^ "Welcome Dean Mercer as Surf Sports Officer". kurrawasurf.com.au. 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ "The Ones To Watch - Open Males" (PDF). Media Guide Coolangatta Gold. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ Brienen, Julee (26 January 1999). "The mighty Dean machine keeps on keeping strong!". The Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ Tobin, Glenn (20 April 1998). "Mercer Marries His Sweetheart". The Illawarra Mercury.
Ironman champion Dean Mercer has always ridden on the crest of a winning wave and on Saturday it peaked beautifully when he married long-time sweetheart Kaylene Costello.
- ^ Brown, Jenny (5 May 2003). "Dean marries his queen Reen". Woman's Day.