There was a CrossFit accident that occurred during a run-swim event that took place on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. Reportedly, a competitor drowned during the Day 1 games that included the participants swimming 800 meters after already running a 5K.
"The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to a drowning call around 8 a.m. Thursday to the Tarrant County College Northwest campus, near Marine Creek Lake," according to an incident report per WFAA.
The victim has been identified by fellow athletes, as Lazar Dukic from Serbia, who was a veteran in the sport and well respected among his counterparts, for he was a high ranking competitor.
Prayers to #lazardukic, his loved ones, his teammates and the entire #crossfit and #crossfitgames community. pic.twitter.com/0Yj1roSexO
— TheStarched (@TheStarched) August 8, 2024
On a livestream that captured the competition, Dukic appeared to be struggling while going underwater near the finish line. Many around him began screaming to get the lifeguards attention, but they were too far away to hear.
JUST IN: Serbian CrossFit athlete Lazar Dukic disappears under the water just moments before crossing the finish line during the 2024 CrossFit Games.
Dukic’s team told the organizers he didn’t emerge from the water which prompted a dive team to look for him.
"It is our… pic.twitter.com/Q0jcYJfbLf
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 8, 2024
Later on in the stream, a spectator was shown diving into the water to where Dukic was last seen, in addition search crews made it to the scene after using drones to identify the exact location.
Lazar Dukic gasped for air and appeared to drown before the finish line. It's messed up that Crossfit Games didn't have lifeguards on jet skis. A spectator jumped in to help but was turned away by a lifeguard on a paddle board. Heartbroken. @CrossFitGames #crossfitgames pic.twitter.com/GPIAGJ9cwD
— R0WLLER (@R0WLLER) August 8, 2024
The Fire Department appeared on the scene undergoing a search and rescue mission, as they captured the victim's body, resurfacing from the water around an hour later, after it was too late.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul confirmed the saddened news of the death.
The CEO of Crossfit said an athlete died today during the swim portion of the organization's event in Fort Worth this morning. FULL DETAILS: https://t.co/GitHyTe3l4 pic.twitter.com/V4OXnP9O7m
— WFAA (@wfaa) August 8, 2024
"CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of one of our athletes in the swim portion of our event this morning ... We are collaborating, we are working very closely with the authorities with the follow-up investigation," Faul said.
— The CrossFit Games (@CrossFitGames) August 8, 2024
The CrossFit games, which had been held in Madison, Wisconsin since its inaugural 2007 debut, were moved to the Fort Worth location as of last year, and some have referenced the heat being a causing factor in the unfortunate incident.
To note, the event was canceled for the rest of the day, and at this time it is unknown whether the multi-day event will resume or not, as more updates will come in throughout the day.
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