SAN ANTONIO – What began as a major race day at Lake Woodlands turned into a recovery operation Saturday morning after a triathlon participant was found dead in the water.
Woodlands Fire Department officials said they were alerted at 7:36 a.m. to a possible lost swimmer in Lake Woodlands during the Ironman Texas triathlon. Fire Chief Palmer Buck said first responders launched a search immediately.
“We responded with a dive rescue team; our boat rescue team arrived on the scene at 7:38. First command was established and resources started working the area where person was last seen,” Buck said.
Buck said another boat with detection equipment arrived shortly afterward. At 8:02 a.m., crews found what could be a person, and around 9 a.m. they determined they had located a victim under the water at a depth of about 10 feet.
Buck said the operation shifted from rescue to recovery, and crews waited for additional help to remove the victim from the lake.
“The decision was made to wait for the North Montgomery County Dive team to assist us in victim extrication. That victim was extricated at 9:39 and pronounced DOS at 9:44,” Buck said.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the victim was participating in the triathlon. In a statement, the Ironman Texas team confirmed the death and offered condolences.
First responders said conditions in the lake made the search difficult.
“There is zero visibility in that current that is always working through Lake Woodlands, and the fact that they’re with a number of people and craft in the water– the water conditions were just extremely difficult,” Buck said.
Officials also noted that swimming is usually not allowed in the lake, but exceptions are made during events like Ironman.