Woman dies after Ironman competition

PANAMA CITY, Fla., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- A Texas woman who began triathlon competition to ease the pain of her husband's death has died while competing in her first Ironman triathlon.

Dorothy Barnett-Griffin, 43, collapsed during a competitive swim in the Gulf of Mexico, The Dallas Morning News reported Friday.

A spokeswoman for North America Sports, which owns and manages Ironman events, said Barnett-Griffin was one of two swimmers left in the water when she suddenly rolled onto her back and passed out.

Efforts to revive her failed and she was declared dead Thursday at a hospital in Panama City, Fla., five days after being admitted in an unconscious state.

A resident of Lucas, Texas, Barnett-Griffin was using her Ironman effort to raise $10,000 for the Journey of Hope Grief Support Center in Plano, Texas.

The newspaper said since Wednesday contributions to Journey of Hope in Barnett-Griffin's name have almost tripled, exceeding her $10,000 goal.

She is survived by her second husband, Mike Griffin, and three children.