Araujo was reported as a lost swimmer around 7:30 AM on Saturday during the Ironman Texas event. Her body was discovered around 90 minutes later in 10 feet of water by divers, according to major media reports. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police launched an investigation into the tragedy. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Department confirmed her identity and stated that preliminary investigations indicate she drowned. Araujo was an experienced triathlete who had completed at least nine Ironman events since 2018.
She was ill before the trip, she wasn't okay. My wife and I spoke with her to say she was too weak for this race, although a couple of days ago when we talked to her, she insisted she was okay. I still cannot believe what's happened. She was weakened because of the flu.
She had over 60,000 followers on Instagram, where she posted motivational content. In one social media post, she wrote about enjoying life's journey despite its speed. According to Daily Mail - News, event volunteer Shawn McDonald described hearing other volunteers report that Araujo went under.
McDonald attempted to rescue her after hearing the reports. According to Daily Mail - News, he briefly felt her body with his foot while diving to search. The exact timeline of events between her disappearance and the discovery of her body remains unclear, and it is not known why safety crews could not immediately locate her.
A group of younger volunteers in a kayak on the far side of the field were raising a flag, blowing a whistle, yelling for help.
Race organizers expressed condolences and offered support to the family and friends. According to Daily Mail - News, friend Luis Taveira described Araujo as having been ill before the trip and suggested she had been facing health issues days before the race. The specific health issues she was facing have not been disclosed.
The exact cause of death beyond preliminary indications of drowning has not been confirmed, and whether there were any safety protocol failures during the swimming portion remains under investigation.
I could see swimmers clinging to their kayak. I heard them say she went under...When I got there and asked what happened, they all said the same thing: 'She went under. Right here. Right below us.' The panic and fear on their faces won't leave me for a long time.
After about a minute underwater, I felt her body with my foot.
I don’t know how to describe what that felt like. I tried again. And again. And again. I just knew I would feel her again and could grab her and pull her up. I lost count of how many times I dove over the next hour.
It never entered my mind that she had already passed long ago. I just kept searching like I was going to pull her up alive. Looking back, I was probably taking more risks than I should have. But I couldn’t stop.
To her family: We did everything we could. I am so deeply, genuinely sorry that it wasn't enough. She will stay with me.