The widow of a Brazilian fitness influencer who drowned during the swimming leg of the Ironman Texas event is calling for a major safety review. Mara Flavia Souza Araujo, 38, died after getting into difficulty in Lake Woodlands near Houston on Saturday.
According to reports, Araujo was reported as a “lost swimmer” around 7.30am but safety crews could not immediately locate her. Her body was discovered around 90 minutes later in 10ft of water by divers. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Araujo was an experienced triathlete who had completed at least nine Ironman events since 2018. She had more than 60,000 followers on Instagram and had posted about the importance of making the most of life just days before her death.
Race organisers expressed their condolences, saying: “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.” The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the drowning was under investigation.
