Tampabay: Triathlon swimmer in critical condition

ST. PETERSBURG - Juli Marshall wasn't breathing when a lifeguard pulled her out of the water Sunday during the St. Anthony's Triathlon.

A St. Petersburg fire rescue crew rushed the 48-year-old Illinois woman to shore, where she was taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Paramedics continued to try to resuscitate her and Marshall started to breathe again just before they arrived at the hospital, said St. Petersburg fire Lt. Rick Feinberg.

Family members of the Chicago attorney, and mother of four, flocked to her bedside and phoned updates back and forth Sunday evening.

Her brother, Tom Wilson of Michigan, said she was "doing better" Sunday night and that some color had returned to her face.

"Her pupils are responsive, " he said. "She's feeling pain on both sides of her body."

Ceceile Taft, also of Michigan, whose daughter is married to one of Marshall's brothers, said Marshall was in a "coma-like state, " but able to breathe partly on her own.

Relatives said her nose was broken, indicating she had possible been kicked during the race. But no one could confirm exactly why Marshall lost consciousness.

"We have no information on what happened, " Wilson said. "If she was kicked, if she had a heart attack, it's just speculation right now."

Bonnie Mason, a Triathlon spokeswoman, said she didn't have any information on the incident.

"We do have a swimmer who was transported to Bayfront, " she said. "I don't know anything about her."

Wilson said Marshall had participated in other sporting events, but he didn't know if she had ever been in a triathlon before.

The triathlon's participant roster listed Marshall with a "Team in Training" group. A national endurance sports training program, Team in Training provides coaches and guidance for relative novices who raise money for charities for their participation.

Mason said triathlon staff didn't take any special precautions for Team in Training participants.

More than 4, 000 individuals and 100 relay teams competed in Sunday's triathlon. It is an Olympic-distance event with a 1.5-kilometer (0.93-mile) swim leg, a 40K (24.8-mile) bike and a 10K (6.2-mile) run.

2006: High winds kicked up 4-foot swells that shocked and stymied many swimmers. Some 50 or 60 swimmers had to be plucked from the water and taken back to shore, including a woman who was found facedown and not breathing. Rescuers were able to resuscitate her.

2005: Participant Edward Kelly, 61, of Thorndale, Pa., collapsed and died during the running portion of the race. Bystanders tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

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Comments on this article

by Cindy	11/11/07 06:53 PM
I still miss her, months have passed and it is hard living without her. I will always love you Juli

by A friend	10/20/07 09:40 PM
I am so sorry that this happened. I will keep the Marshall Family in my prayers and wish you the best.

by Dan	05/06/07 10:22 PM
As an experienced triathlete,I was impressed with how well organized the event was. However,I was surprised to see so many TNT people doing an Olympic tri as their first event ( i.e. start with a sprint in a smaller setting ). Prayers to the family.

by Brenda	05/06/07 03:12 PM
To Melissa: our family is very saddened by the news of your mom passing away The few times we met you we know you are a very wonderful person(taking after your mom, we hear)Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and your friend Colin

by JC	05/05/07 09:05 PM
Juli was not only a team mate but a wonderful women. We were all blessed to have known and trained with her. My heart goes out to her family and their horrible loss, you are all in my prayers. I will train and compete daily with Juli in my heart.

by Stephen	05/04/07 04:49 PM
My thoughts and prayers go out to her family. Love and strength.

by Rob	05/04/07 09:16 AM
This event has become too crowded. They've doubled the size of the field from what it was just a few years ago. And Team in Training needs to do some soul searching. This isn't a marathon where you can walk if you're tired.

by CB	05/04/07 06:42 AM
Very sad news, for her family, the triathlon community, all of us, I have lots of respect for her and I never met her. In the next race she goes in my heart!

by Christle	05/04/07 05:50 AM
I am sorry for the families loss and am stunned by this sort of accident. I am a Team in Training participant scheduled to do the NYC Tri this July. I am seriously considering not doing it now. The article above rightly points out problems withTNT

by Marc	05/03/07 10:42 PM
She was my Aunt. Tom in the story is my father. Aunt Juli passed away yesterday, may 2nd. She was declared 100% brain dead, beleived to be caused by a stroke.

by Delores	05/03/07 01:46 PM
My prayers are with Juli's family

by r	05/03/07 12:35 PM
Our thoughts and prayers are with Juli's family on her passing. She was a wonderful and thoughtful person and will be missed. She left many good memories with us.

by Kate	05/03/07 01:42 AM
Juli Marshall died on May 2nd. Please pray for her, her husband Bob and their four children. Juli was devoted to them and her extended family. She was a kind and generous friend with boundless energy and beautiful smiles.

by Cathy	05/02/07 12:08 AM
Please pray for Juli. She is a wonderful and kind person, who would go out of her way for anyone. She is a goal setter who lived to be the best example she could and now desperately needs your prayers to pull through this terrible tragedy.

by J	05/01/07 01:24 PM
"Team" prepares racers well (generally)for events Hoo. Part of triathlon is the wave/mass start which is crowded and getting kicked and hit is part of the game/danger. Thoughts and prayers to her family and business partners.

by Maureen	04/30/07 10:36 PM
Our thoughts and prayers are with Juliand her family.

by Hoo	04/30/07 02:36 PM
I think Elena Lesley's tone is unbias with respect to the cause. If anything, she fails mention that Team in Training should put some thought into their own risk management, coaching of safety, and minimum fitness requirements for events.

by Diane	04/30/07 01:55 PM
I'd do it if I thought I could go the distance. I prefer to support the events by contributing because I am not supposed to run. It's a great event and I hope people realize there's always a "chance" for injury, but it's worth the small risk!

by paula	04/30/07 12:40 AM
despite the unfortunate incidents, to those who were injured, the event is positive,very well organized, pleasant and most professional, i congratulate all participants, those who run the event , very proud of my niece sarah duffy , her first race! wtg

by Leigh	04/29/07 09:46 PM
A speedy recovery is wished for the participant. Team in Training is a wonderful organization and hopefully the tone of this article does not cause anyone to feel otherwise.

Triathlon swimmer in critical condition

Early edition: Paramedics resuscitated Juli Marshall. Her brother, Tom Wilson of Michigan, said she was "doing better" Sunday night and that some color had returned to her face. "Her pupils are responsive, " he said. "She's feeling pain on both sides of her body."