A 46-year-old Austin, Texas, man died while swimming in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon Sunday morning.
Race organizers believe the man suffered a heart attack shortly after he entered the San Francisco Bay for the 1.5-mile swimming portion of the triathlon around 7:30 a.m., according a statement by Race Director Bill Burke.
Burke said that the race's water safety team saw the man in the water and began CPR as they brought him to the shore. But rescuers were unable to revive him.
Burke said the man is the first person to die in the race's history.
The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon includes a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island to the shores of the St. Francis Yacht Club, an 18-mile bike ride, and an 8-mile run through San Francisco's Golden Gate Recreational Area.
