*FOR PUBLIC RELEASE*
TWS Board of Directors’ Statement Regarding the DQ of Boat 42:
On Saturday, June 14, 2026 at approximately 10:30 p.m. near the head of the logjam between Invista and Tivoli, a paddler on Boat 42, Andrew McEwan, suffered a medical issue, went unconscious and fell into the water. Fellow team member, Adam Sims, selflessly entered the water and pulled Andrew to safety. For his actions, Adam was awarded the Brad Ellis Spirit Award.
At approximately 10:45 p.m., other members of Boat 42 attempted to contact their team captains without success due to poor cell reception. The team members then attempted to contact race officials to determine the fastest extraction point to get Andrew medical attention. Once the call was received by race officials a search team was mobilized to meet Boat 42 and the team was instructed to travel upstream to the railroad trestle approximately six miles downstream from Invista and approximately two miles upstream of the team’s location. The team informed race officials that Andrew was conscious and seemingly stable.
Between 10:45 p.m. and midnight several communications among race officials took place regarding the extraction logistics, obtaining waivers for replacement TC’s for Boat 42, and the two-way communication device rule. Plans were being made to convene the Rules Infraction Committee in order to discuss and vote on a potential rules infraction for the use of the two-way communication device to contact a race official for assistance. At this point, no decision had been made and all available Rules Infraction Committee Members and Board Members were in agreement that the remaining members of Boat 42 should be allowed to continue pending a final decision on the potential infraction.
At approximately midnight, a race official, based on a misunderstanding of the race rules and procedures put in place to deal with potential rules infractions, asked the search team to inform Boat 42 and their team captains that they had been disqualified, which they did. The team accepted the decision with grace and began the process of loading out. Andrew was conscious and lucid and did not want medical attention.
Between 12:04 a.m. and 12:20 a.m., the available members of the Rules Infractions Committee along with other race officials and board members, were discussing the incident by text. During that same time period, the Rules Infraction Committee learned of the decision to disqualify Boat 42. The discussion of the incident had not been concluded and no vote had been taken at that time. The Rules Infraction Committee and the other race officials who were involved were informed that Boat 42 had already loaded out and left the river.
At the conclusion of the race, one of Boat 42’s TC’s, Ed Jones, filed a formal protest of the DQ. The TWS Board initiated an extensive inquiry where every person involved was interviewed and call logs obtained from many of those people who were most directly involved. This inquiry was conducted by members of the board who were not involved in the incidents that led to the DQ. A formal response to Mr. Jones’ protest was issued wherein the DQ for Boat 42 was rescinded. The race records for Brian Jones, Adam Sims and Ryan Martinez will reflect their status as Administratively Withdrawn. Because assistance was requested on behalf of Andrew McEwan, his status will be DNF.
The Board of Directors fully recognizes that an error occurred that led to the DQ decision. Despite having rules in place and procedures for dealing with rules infractions, those rules and procedures were not followed. The Board deeply regrets the error and would like to formally apologize to Boat 42 for ending their race.
Moving forward, the Board intends to review the race rules regarding the use of two-way communication devices and requests for assistance and amend the rules for clarity, as necessary. The TWS Board recognizes that safety must be the highest priority in all race operations. The Texas Water Safari rulebook contains provisions designed both to maintain competitive integrity and to protect participant safety. When circumstances create tension between those objectives, rules and procedures intended to protect the health and safety of participants must take precedence.
Sincerely,
Texas Water Safari Board of Directors