The CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, Texas, started on Thursday with athletes taking to the water in competition. The event concluded in tragedy.
A 28-year-old man from Serbia by the name of Lazar Dukic could be seen gasping for air as he neared the finish line in Marine Creek Lake. He eventually went under water and did not emerge. The scene was absolutely crazy.
Someone on land attempted to help Dukic before being held off by a lifeguard on the scene in Texas. Ultimately, the CrossFit Games announced that Dukic had died.
“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,” CrossFit Games CEO Don Faul said in a statement.
CrossFit Games Under Fire Following Drowning Death Of Lazar Dukic
Obviously, an investigation will be the name of the game here. It happened as authorities were looking on. As you can see in the video, Dukic was struggling breathing before he ultimately drowned.
“I saw him sort of start to scramble he started doing small turns and he was trying to get his head out of the water,” CrossFit athlete Cole Learn said. “It was at that time we started screaming to the lifeguard he needed help and in a few seconds he was under, he never came back up.”
Something like this should have never happened. It really is a tragedy.
The event was streamed on ESPN+ and several other platforms including Facebook, Twitch and YouTube. All the livestreams abruptly ended Thursday morning after the shocking events.
Our thoughts go out to Dukic’s family and friends. This is just horrible stuff.