The national ironman champion suffered a severe heart attack on Monday morning whilst driving on the Gold Coast. He was 47.
Dean Mercer leaves behind wife Reen, also a former ironwoman champion and his four sons, aged between six and thirteen.
Ms Mercer said in a statement for the Gold Coast Bulletin: ‘Our whole family is overwhelmed and thankful for all the support given, and thanks everyone for respecting our privacy at this difficult time’.
Along with Reen, the Mercer family released a joint statement: ‘He will go down in history as one of Australia's greatest ironmen who represented both NSW and Queensland and wore the green and gold of Australia’.
A GoFundMe page has also been setup today to help raise money for the late father's children.
This article first published on New Idea.
