Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. An Australian man died in the thick jungle of Indonesian Borneo during a weekend motocross event, officials said Monday.
Rescuers on Sunday retrieved the body of Michael Adrian Headley, 35, who died of a heart attack during the rally, and rescued 20 local riders, event organizer Harin Tasmida told AFP.
"He had a heart attack and died instantly. He seemed to have forced himself beyond his physical ability," Tasmida said.
The riders were forced to spend the night in the jungle after heavy rains muddied the track.
"Many motorcycles broke down on the trail and riders had no choice but to stay overnight in the jungle without food and water, many suffering from fatigue," local rescuer Trembli Vemberiyanto said.
Tasmida, however, denied the event was poorly organized, saying they responded as quickly as possible.
"Nobody went missing. They only got stuck in the jungle because of the muddy terrain as it was raining a night before. We sent them food and water," he said.
The 140-kilometer (87-mile) "Balikpapan Two Days Enduro" began Saturday with around 800 participants in the city of Balikpapan, where the Australian lived with his family and worked for a mining company.
The event was part of the city's 116th anniversary celebrations.
The organizer said Headley had undergone a physical examination in Singapore two months earlier and had been in good condition.
Agence France-Presse
Motorcycling: Australian Dies of Heart Attack in Kalimantan Motocross | The Jakarta Globe
Interesting, the paper version said he died of dehydration. the paper version also said about 60 riders got lost and that 20 have still not been found.