High-ranking Navy officer drowns during Oahu biathlon

KAILUA — A high-ranking Navy officer drowned while finishing a popular Oahu biathlon.

Hawaii News Now reports that 44-year-old Erik Sweet was pronounced dead after 45 minutes of CPR Sunday. Sweet and his wife Linda Seymour were competing in the Kailua Dash and Splash Biathlon.

Sweet was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. After 25 years, he was set to retire Friday.

Seymour said she finished the race then heard sirens. She is the Commanding Officer of the USS Halsey warship at Pearl Harbor.

The Kailua Dash and Splash is a 2.8-mile run around Lanikai Loop and an 800-meter swim through Kailua Beach.