THE WOODLANDS, Texas – A participant in the IRONMAN Texas triathlon died during the swim portion of Saturday’s race in The Woodlands, according to authorities.
Speaking with KPRC 2 News, The Woodlands Fire Chief Palmer Buck said the response started as a rescue but ultimately turned into a recovery operation.
Buck said crews were notified around 7:30 a.m. of a “lost swimmer” in Lake Woodlands near Northshore Park and launched a water rescue response.
“We already had a rescue boat on the scene, they were out as part of the racecraft working the event. They let us know as we were arriving on scene that they were searching near a buoy for a lost swimmer. We coordinated all of our resources to around that buoy,” Buck said.
As the race continued, Buck said responders had to work through challenging conditions, including heavy activity on the water from other swimmers and support craft.
Buck said a second rescue boat equipped with side-scan sonar was brought in and, just after 8 a.m., crews began focusing their search after seeing potential targets.
The swimmer was identified around 9 a.m., Buck said, and at that point the operation shifted from rescue to recovery.
With underwater visibility described as “zero,” Buck said they waited for a dive team from the North Montgomery County Fire Department to assist.
“The victim was found in about 10 feet of water on the bottom of the lake,” Buck said. “The dive team accessed the victim, brought her up about 9:37 and then brought her over to the shore where she was pronounced DOS (deceased on scene).”
Buck said it is too early to speculate what caused the swimmer to go under. He said a member of the race support staff reported seeing a swimmer go under, which prompted the emergency response.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating.
In a release, the sheriff’s office confirmed the participant drowned during the swim portion of the event and said Major Crimes detectives are on scene and will continue the investigation “per normal protocols.”
The sheriff’s office said the participant’s identity is not being released yet while arrangements are made to notify the family.
IRONMAN also confirmed the death in a statement provided to KPRC 2 News.
We are saddened to confirm the death of a race participant during the swim portion of today’s IRONMAN Texas triathlon. We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the athlete and will offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time. Our gratitude goes out to the first responders for their assistance. Out of respect for the athlete and their family, we will have no further comment.
IRONMAN