An athlete died Sunday after being taken from the Boulder Ironman 70.3 triathlon to the hospital during the race Saturday, Ironman officials said in an emailed statement.

The national Ironman organization is not releasing the name, age or gender of the athlete.

However, a medical doctor who was at the event to watch his girlfriend compete said the athlete was a man.

Donald Cain was visiting from Wisconsin, where he has volunteered in the medical tent at triathlons before, for the Ironman 70.3. He was impressed with how quickly the man was taken out of the water.

“The fact that he made it out of that water and out of that park to the hospital alive is really a testament to the coordinated effort that those folks put forward,” he said. “(…) I really don’t think that they could have done a better job.”

Cain was standing at the water’s edge at Boulder Reservoir when he said he saw a “huge commotion” in the water.

Other swimmers began screaming for help, and then someone in a kayak went over to the area and began to wave a flag, Cain said. Quickly, people on two waverunners responded to the scene and got the man to an inflatable dock.

“They were into CPR immediately,” Cain said, and it became clear that the situation was grave as they continued to give the man CPR for 10 to 15 minutes.

Spectators who came to watch friends and family started to scream and pray, Cain said.

“There were people saying the Our Father,” he said. “It was pretty intense … . It makes me kind of choke up just trying to remember the whole thing.”

The athlete was taken to a local hospital, though the Ironman organization would not say which one.

At the hospital, the athlete continued to receive treatment, but died Sunday evening, according to Ironman.

“Our sincere condolences go out to the athlete’s family and friends, whom we will continue to support during this most difficult time,” Ironman said in it’s statement.

Madeline St. Amour: 303-684-5212, mstamour@prairiemountainmedia.com