Finalist dies at World Sauna Championships

[Eldritch]

Sauna endurance finalist collapses and dies in 110C

A Russian finalist in the world sauna championships collapsed and died after withstanding a temperature of 110 degrees Celsius for six minutes.

Vladimir Ladyzhensky and Timo Kaukonen of Finland, the other finalist, were rushed to hospital after fainting when the competition was cut short and the sauna doors were opened.

Ossi Arvela, the head of the sauna-sitting competition, said in a statement: "The Russian competitor has died in the sauna world championships.”

He added that Kaukonen had been taken from the competition site in Heinola, 86 miles north of Helsinki, to a hospital further south in the larger city of Lahti for treatment.

Kaukonen, last year’s winner, and Ladyzhensky were among the favourites to win the competition in which participants were asked to withstand a temperature 110 degrees Celsius (230 degrees Fahrenheit) for as long as possible.

The event “was halted immediately after the accident", he said, adding: "We are all deeply saddened by this tragic event."

Mr Arvela said police had launched an investigation and he insisted that “all the rules were followed” and that all contestants had undergone medical checks before the competition.

The contest was halted after about six minutes and when the doors were opened both finalists collapsed, according to STT, the Finnish news agency.

One witness said the finalists had both suffered serious burns, but Mr Arvela could not confirm the claim.

The championships have been held in Heinola since 1999, and this year’s event drew 135 contestants from 15 different countries.

Link.

"Serious burns" sounds about right:

Spoiler!

Just for the record I've thought this an idiotic event, and I'm glad it will most likely be discontinued. It's just a pity someone had to die for them to come to their senses.

[Bloodeagle]

Well it is apparent that the Russians can't hang with the Finns in the Sauna!

The Finnish competitor merely fainted from the heat.

Will this prompt the Finns to have special Russian only saunas with the heat turned down appropriately?

[nisse]

"Serious burns" sounds about right:

Spoiler!

Clearly a mental health assessment is not part of the health checkup...no one in their right mind would willingly be steamed alive

[Aemma]

That's horrible. Why would such a contest even exist? And at such temps? The whole thing is quite ridiculous. Very sad indeed.

[Eldritch]

I've never understood the idea of this event anyway. It's like organising a contest on sunbathing, or sitting in a jacuzzi.

Timo Kaukonen, the other finalist, is a complete loonie who spend more time in saunas than outside them, btw.

[Ilya.S]

I think that saunas should be for pleasure, not for competition.

[Falkata]

Gross, I´ve watched it today in the news.In the picture the man seems to be cooked like a beef
I´ve never liked saunas btw. Maybe they weren´t made for the swarthies but after 2-3 minutes I start to feel bad, with problems to breath and an anxiety feeling. Imagine if you can´t open the damn heavy door!
They are not very popular around here anyway as you can imagine..I´ve just seem them in good hotels or expensive gyms. And also in Chueca , the gay neighbourhood of Madrid. But I dont have any intention to go there. :

[Eldritch]

Two articles from Russia about the tragedy:

Here Vladimir Ladyzhenski apparently boasts that he'll win even if it costs him his life. As we have seen unfortunately it did not happen that way -- although he did die trying.

This story comes with a short video of the event.

The heat that ultimately killed Ladyzhenski in seven minutes drove this competitor out in under a minute:

[Agrippa]

Humans always made stupid things, yet that seems to be part of THAT competition.

In the past that was a heavy torture, now they do it at their own will, just to prove that they can stand it, even though it is absolutely clear that it ruins and mutilates the individual. Absurd.

[Moonbird]

Gross, I´ve watched it today in the news.In the picture the man seems to be cooked like a beef
I´ve never liked saunas btw. Maybe they weren´t made for the swarthies but after 2-3 minutes I start to feel bad, with problems to breath and an anxiety feeling. Imagine if you can´t open the damn heavy door!
They are not very popular around here anyway as you can imagine..I´ve just seem them in good hotels or expensive gyms. And also in Chueca , the gay neighbourhood of Madrid. But I dont have any intention to go there. :

I don't get sick in saunas but I can't say I like them. Can't understand why people want to take part in this kind of competition but I guess tastes differ.