Volunteer opens up about trying to save Brazilian athlete who died during IRONMAN Texas

Authorities identified the athlete as Mara Araujo, 38, a fitness influencer from Brazil who had competed in Ironman events before.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — A volunteer at the Ironman in The Woodlands says he tried to rescue a Brazilian athlete who later died during the swim portion of the race Saturday.

Authorities identified the athlete as Mara Araujo, 38, a fitness influencer from Brazil who had competed in Ironman events before.

Shawn McDonald, who volunteered on Lake Woodlands during the Ironman, said he was on a paddleboard with his daughter helping monitor swimmers when he noticed another volunteer signaling for help.

“He kept blowing the whistle, so I was like, what’s going on?” McDonald said.

RELATED: What we’re learning about the IRONMAN Texas athlete who died in The Woodlands Saturday

McDonald said he quickly realized a swimmer had gone underwater. He rushed to the area and began diving in an attempt to locate her.

At one point, he said he felt her body but she was already deep in the lake. 

“I took a super big breath and went right back down right where I felt her, and she was gone,” he said. “That was hard. Because when I came up, I knew I was going to her — just knew it.”

McDonald said he continued searching for several minutes, repeatedly diving underwater, but was unable to find her. The rescue effort later shifted to a recovery operation. A dive team found Araujo’s body hours later, officials said.

“In my mind, I thought she was always going to be alive,” McDonald said. “Even after an hour, it never registered to me.”

Araujo’s boyfriend told KHOU 11 she was an experienced athlete who had trained for the competition and was feeling completely find before the race. He said he wants her to be remembered as kind and passionate about the sport.

McDonald said the tragedy has been difficult to process.

“When God thinks it’s your time, it’s your time,” he said. “She was doing something she clearly loved, and she was really good at it.”

Representatives with Ironman did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the incident remains under investigation.

Araujo’s family is in Texas working to return her body to Brazil, where she will be laid to rest.

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