Man dies despite golfers efforts to save him

WASAGAMING — Tragedy struck the Tamarack golf tournament on Tuesday when a player died on the 18th hole at Clear Lake Golf Course.

Gudbrandur Gudbrandsson, 42, collapsed on the tee box after hitting his shot, and did not survive despite the efforts of many golfers who stepped up in attempts to save him.

“It was just tragic, for him and his family,” said Tamarack president Jason Curtis. “Very heartbreaking to those involved, and traumatic for those around that worked on him, that gave their best and did their all to give him a fighting chance.”

Gudbrandsson was playing in the same group as David Glenn, a doctor based out of Brandon, who immediately jumped in and co-ordinated efforts to perform CPR.

Caden Sawchuk was on the 17th green while his father, Jeff, was watching his match from the 18th tee box when Gudbrandsson’s opponent, Doug Stinchcombe, alerted the groups behind. Both Sawchuks have CPR training and ran up the hill to help.

Soon-to-be paramedic Aiden Wilson was on the 17th tee when it happened and ran to the tee box as well, with paramedic Wade Sauve and Cam McPhail also jumping in to assist when they heard there was a need.

“Everywhere, there’s good people. I don’t think it matters what the situation, when you can help in some sort of way, in a time of crisis, everybody just stepped up,” Jeff Sawchuk said. “That’s what happened there, people stepped up. Thank God you had Dr. Glenn there, and a trained paramedic that have dealt with those situations before.

“Doc took the lead, of course, did a phenomenal job, as best as we could. We continued with CPR for approximately 45 minutes.”

While Clear Lake Golf Course doesn’t have a defibrillator, one was brought in from Elkhorn Resort and used between 20 and 25 minutes after Gudbrandsson collapsed, with CPR continuing afterwards until paramedics arrived to take over.

“There was no quit in anybody,” Jeff Sawchuk said. “Led by Doc Glenn and Wade there, everybody did an excellent job, and it’s just a very unfortunate result and we feel obviously devastated for that family, leaving behind three young kids.”

Glenn respectfully declined comment, but noted the importance of defibrillators and knowing where the nearest one is in a time of need.

In Wasagaming, they’re located at the visitor information centre, at Friends of the RMNP, as well as two in the Wasagaming campground and one in the old campground.

Gudbrandsson was part of four generations of Tamarack history in his family, first playing as a junior and making his return to the game and the Tamarack after 25 years apart.

Gudbrandsson shot rounds of 78 and 84 to qualify for the second flight, sitting 55th of 144 players in the men’s tournament.

He was leading his match by one when he went down.

“He hit a beautiful tee shot, just piped one right down the middle. He went down to pick up his tee and just collapsed,” Jeff Sawchuk said.

Gudbrandsson’s family, in a statement read at the Tamarack’s entertainment night on Thursday, mentioned how excited he was to return to such a special family tradition.

“The Tamarack meant so much to him and his family that’s been attending the tournament for four generations,” Curtis read on behalf of the family.

“The family would like to extend their gratitude to everyone that helped and to recognize the courage of those who tried to save Brandur.”

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