Olympic hero Katie Archibald has bravely revealed how she desperately tried to resuscitate her partner Rab Wardell before his sudden death on Tuesday. Wardell tragically fell into a cardiac arrest whilst in bed alongside Archibald.
Despite both the efforts of the Olympian and the paramedics who arrived, Wardell was unable to be resuscitated and passed away just two days after becoming the Scottish Cross Country champion. Following his death, the cross country bike rider's partner Archibald has bravely opened up on social media about the tragic circumstances.
Taking to Twitter she wrote: "I think you've heard that Rab died yesterday morning. I still don't understand what's happened; if this is real; why he'd be taken now - so healthy and happy."
Revealing her attempts to try and save Wardell, the two-time Olympic gold medal winner added: "He went into cardiac arrest while we were lying in bed. I tried and tried, and the paramedics arrived within minutes, but his heart stopped and they couldn't bring him back. Mine stopped with it. I love him so much and need him here with me.
"I need him here so badly, but he's gone. I can't describe this pain. Thank you to those making tributes. I can't bear to talk about him in the past tense to say anything myself. You mean everything to me, Rab. I love you."
In the wake of Wardell's tragic passing, a number of tributes have flooded in for the cycling star. In a statement, The Scottish Cross Country Association said: "Our deepest sympathy to his friends, family and loved ones.
"He will be truly missed by our community and his determination, talent and friendship will live on in all our hearts and memories. I'm sure more eloquent words will be written by many but RIP Rab. Our Champion, Our Inspiration, Our Friend."
Scottish Cycling also said it was "devastated" to confirm the death of Wardell, who was a former employee, and had also set a new record time for completing the West Highland Way in 2020. "We have very little information at this stage, but we send our love and support to his family, friends and all those in our community who knew him," the organisation said.
Wardell, a former Commonwealth Games cyclist, had also appeared on BBC Scotland's The Nine show on Monday evening just hours before his tragic death. He had spoken about how he had become Scottish Cross Country champion despite having to deal with three punctures.
The mountain biker had only turned professional earlier this year but had been racing since he was a teenager, and his weekend win was described by British Cycling as a "show of incredible resilience.
