Britain's Katie Archibald describes attempt to save partner Rob Wardell after fatal cardiac arrest
Katie Archibald won gold for Team GB in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Ian
MacNicol/Getty Images
Aug 24, 2022
British Double Olympic champion Katie Archibald has described how she tried desperately to save her partner Rob Wardell after he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest at their home early on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Archibald, who won team pursuit gold at the 2016 Rio Games and the Madison in Tokyo alongside Laura Trott, described her devastation after Wardell, 37, died two days after winning Scottish MTB XC Championships.
"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," Archibald posted on Twitter.
"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."
Wardell, a former Commonwealth Games cyclist, appeared on BBC Scotland's The Nine programme on Monday evening, just hours before his death, describing how he had won the title at Kirroughtree Forest on Sunday despite enduring three punctures.
