South African radio station 702 Talk Radio reported this morning that former South African national champion Ryan Cox died just before 5am this morning at a Kempton Park hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to the radio station doctors battled for over an hour to try and save Cox's life.

Cox had been fighting for his life since Monday after suffering a major heart attack when an artery burst.  The 28-year-old cyclist then had to undergo emergency surgery, but his heart stopped three times before the doctors started the operation.

Cox underwent a vascular lesion operation in Europe on July 4 and returned to South Africa to recuperate.

Teammate at Barloworld, Robert Hunter said this morning he was devastated. Barloworld's team manager Claudio Corti said: "Ryan was an extremely talented rider who excelled in the international cycling arena. He has represented his country with great skill and pride, and has always been looked upon as a great ambassador for South African cycling."

Corti concluded by saying: "On behalf of Team Barloworld, our deepest condolences are extended to the Cox family." 

Cox was born April 9, 1979. He turned professional in 2001, and has been a rider for Team Barloworld since 2003. He has had seven victories to date, with his most significant wins including the South African National Road Championship in 2004 and 2005 and the overall win of the 2005 Tour de Langkawi. With apologies to Robert Hunter, the first South African rider who won a Tour de France stage in this years edition of the race, it could be argued that Ryan Cox was the first man truly to put South Africa on the global cycling map.

Ryan Cox personal website was shut down in the early afternoon. Visitors of http://www.ryancox.co.za/ will only see a black screen.

Cyclingheroes would like to extend our condolences to Ryan's fiancee, family, friends and teammates.

Messages of condolence can be sent to http://www.ryancox.co.za/gaeste_neu.php

Palmares Ryan Cox

2007 - 2° [Giro del Capo (Rsa) - 2nd stage]; 5° [Giro del Capo (Rsa) - Overall standing]

2006 - 3° [Cape Town Tour (Rsa) - overall standing, Liberty Criterium (Rsa) - circuit]; 4° [Cape Town Tour (Rsa) - 2nd stage, Cape Town Tour (Rsa) - 4th stage]

2005 - 4* [stage Tour de Langkawi, overall standing Tour de Langkawi, Road National Championships, stage Qinghai Lake Tour]

2004 - 2* [Road National Championship, stage Giro del Capo]

2003 - 1* [stage Circuit des Mines]