Dean Mercer killed in horrific crash on Gold Coast

Former ironman Dean Mercer has died after suffering a heart attack while driving his car on the Gold Coast on Monday morning.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports Mercer crashed his car into a fence while driving on Markeri Street, a busy road in the beachside suburb of Mermaid Waters, just after 7am.

Police reportedly told Nine News the majority of his injuries were caused by the heart attack and not the crash itself.

Paramedics tried to revive him using CPR for an hour at the scene.

The father-of-four was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital, but suffered cardiac arrest in the emergency room and died.

Photos from the scene show the grey SUV crumpled against a backyard fence on the side of the road.

A car has crashed into a fence on Markeri St. @7NewsGoldCoast #7news pic.twitter.com/ZrqXQYXBq5

— Jess Mumme (@JessMumme) August 27, 2017

His family have been told of the tragic news.

Mercer was retired, but remained heavily involved in local community sports. He was the surf sports director at the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club.

He is survived by his wife, former ironwoman champion Reen Corbett, and their four children.

Nine News reports the Mercer family released a statement on Monday afternoon.

“It is with great sadness and grief that we advise that our beloved Dean – loving husband of Reen and devoted father to their four boys Brayden, 13, Rory,11, Lachlan 9, and Joshua 6, passed away earlier today as a result of a cardiac arrest while driving on the Gold Coast. He was 47,” they said.

“… Reen, surrounded by close friends has had to tell her boys of the shocking news. You can only imagine the grief surrounding the Mercer family at this time.

“Dean was an amazing husband and loving father who loved nothing more than sharing his and Reen’s love of life and love of the surf.”

Do you have a message of condolence to share? Do you remember Dean Mercer?