CNN
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An athlete died during a swimming competition in a Texas lake on Thursday, the first day of the CrossFit Games, a multi-day event that brings together athletes from around the world who are widely regarded as the fittest people in the world.
According to Tarrant County Coroner’s Office records, the player was Serbian national Rakar Dukic, 28. The cause of death had not been released as of Thursday afternoon.
Police at the Fort Worth event received a call just before 7 a.m. about a contestant who was “last seen in the water and did not resurface,” and the individual was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene, Fort Worth police said.
“Our thoughts are with Lazar’s family, friends and fellow athletes.” CrossFit Games said in X“Out of respect for the family and in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department, we will provide updates as soon as possible.”
The 800-meter swim for Thursday’s morning event took place in Maligne Creek Lake after athletes completed a 3.5-mile run, according to CrossFit. Organizers said the remaining events scheduled for Thursday have been canceled and will be reevaluated later that day to determine whether the next three days of competition will go ahead as scheduled.
CrossFit Games 4-day event It brings together athletes from all over the world and is widely regarded as the ultimate test of physical ability.
CrossFit CEO Don Fall said at a press conference that the company was “devastated” by the tragedy and that the fitness company was “doing all we can to support the family and community during this tragic time.”
Faull said each CrossFit Games competition involves “meticulous planning” and has documented safety plans with personnel on-site during the event. Details of the process for planning and executing the event will be part of the investigation into Thursday’s incident, he said.
Dukic was pronounced dead at 10:24 a.m., according to the coroner’s office.
Police say the incident remains under investigation and has been reported to homicide detectives.
CrossFit said Thursday that it is “fully cooperating with authorities and is doing all we can to support the family at this time.”
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to the 911 call and arrived on the scene strictly as a “search and rescue type resource,” department spokesman Craig Trojacek said at a press conference.
“We sent in a dive team and we sent in arson investigators with a drone to help search for the missing person,” Trojacek said. “We ended up pulling the body out of the water just a little over an hour after we sent the first diver in.”
Fort Worth Police Sergeant Lee Wagner said the department’s homicide unit arrived on the scene after the player’s body was discovered.
“This was a terrible day for everyone who participated in these events, and it’s heartbreaking to see everyone mourning what happened today,” Wagner said at a news conference.
Performance energy drink brand “FITAID” He said in a Facebook post “Dukic was a beloved member of our team and was like family for many years,” Dukic said.
“Our hearts are broken,” the post read.
a GoFundMe fundraiser A GoFundMe page organized by FITAID for Dukic’s family says the athlete was “known for his kindness, humor and supportive nature.”
“After years of playing water polo diligently in his native Serbia, his debut at the 2021 CrossFit Games highlighted the start of his incredible career. He shares a special bond with his older brother Luka, who introduced him to CrossFit and has guided him along his journey,” a statement from the fundraiser read.
CrossFit Games athlete Cole Rahn, who witnessed the incident, He told CNN affiliate WFAA. He said he was “completely devastated” by Dukic’s death.
“I don’t know what to think. I’m almost in a state of denial,” said Rahn, who lives in Ontario, Canada.
Rahn said he was shocked by his fellow athlete’s death and broke down in tears.
“We saw him start to climb out (of the water),” Rahn told WFAA. “He started to make little turns and was trying to get his head out of the water. That’s when we started yelling to the lifeguards that we needed help, but within seconds he was underwater and never resurfaced.”
Seeing Dukic’s brother, who also competed in the CrossFit Games, “running down the sidelines looking for him is something I’ll never forget,” Rahn told WFAA.
