CrossFit Games death: Lazar Dukic dies in reported drowning

FORT WORTH, Texas — A CrossFit Video games athlete died after a reported drowning in a Fort Value lake on Thursday throughout the first day of competitors within the multi-day occasion, officers stated.

CrossFit officers in a information convention confirmed {that a} CrossFit athlete drowned within the swim portion of the CrossFit Sport’s first occasion. The occasion was held at Marine Creek Lake, close to the Tarrant County School Northwest campus.

The sufferer was recognized as Lazar Đukić,  28, of Serbia, in response to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Workplace. Đukić  was pronounced useless at 10:24 a.m., the medical expert information stated.

A reason behind the demise was not initially listed Thursday afternoon.

The remainder of the CrossFit Video games occasions had been canceled for Thursday. Officers determined to proceed the competitors Thursday evening. 

“After cautious thought and plenty of conversations internally, with athletes, and with Lazar Đukić’s household, it’s been determined that the CrossFit Video games will proceed all through the rest of the weekend at Dickies Area in Fort Value, Texas,” a press release from CrossFit Video games organizers learn.

In accordance with the discharge, a particular tribute honoring Lazar Đukić might be held at 10 a.m. Friday previous to the day’s occasions.

“CrossFit is deeply saddened by the demise of considered one of our athletes within the swim portion of our occasion this morning … We’re collaborating, we’re working very carefully with the authorities with the follow-up investigation,” Faul stated. 

Cole Study, a CrossFit athlete from Ontario, Canada witnessed the drowning from the shore of the lake Thursday morning. 

“Completely devastated, undecided what to assume, and nearly in denial,” Study stated. 

Study stated he witnessed the moments the athlete went below the water throughout the swimming occasion. 

“I noticed him form of begin to scramble he began doing small turns and he was making an attempt to get his head out of the water,” Study stated. “It was at the moment we began screaming to the lifeguard he wanted assist and in just a few seconds he was below, he by no means got here again up.” 

The CrossFit Video games had a security plan in place and security personnel on-site on the occasion, Faul stated. All the particulars of how the occasion and drowning unfolded Thursday might be a part of a evaluation with regulation enforcement, Faul stated. 

“I feel the CrossFit group must lean on one another proper now,” Study stated. “I’m not too certain the place the CrossFit video games are going to go from right here, however they will should make some drastic measurements to ensure this by no means occurs once more.”

The Fort Value Hearth Division was known as to the drowning report round 8 a.m. Video from the scene appeared to point out Fort Value Hearth Rescue pulling a physique from the water round 10 a.m. and putting it in a bag.

“I do know lots of you will have questions on who it was immediately… that data won’t be launched till the Tarrant County Medical Examiner has the chance to talk with the household and confirm the athlete’s identify and identification,” Leah Wagner, a spokesperson for the Fort Value Police Division, stated. 

The occasion the place the incident occurred was the web site of a run-swim occasion on the CrossFit Video games, in response to the occasion schedule. The run-swim was free for spectators to watch and miles away from the primary competitors house at Dickies Area. 

“There’s lots of people in the neighborhood which are hurting proper now, which are actually unhappy, that knew the athlete properly, that liked and revered this particular person and lots of people are mourning,” Faul stated.

Samantha Brown, who traveled from North Carolina to look at the CrossFit Video games stated the CrossFit group is shut, and a drowning occurring at considered one of their occasions is surprising. 

“It is terrible, particularly since it is not one thing that we’d ever anticipate to occur and would think about occurring,” Brown stated. “We’re all athletes right here and one thing like that is heartbreaking.” 

A GoFundMe has been began to assist Đukić’s household.

Whereas it is unclear when the CrossFit Video games will resume, all occasions had been canceled Thursday. 

The occasions are scheduled for streaming on ESPN+ and several other different platforms together with Fb, Twitch and YouTube. All of the livestreams abruptly ended Thursday morning. Whereas scheduled livestreams remained on the ESPN+ platform, the 11 a.m. broadcast of occasions was not airing.

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The Sevan Podcast, which covers the CrossFit Video games, was livestreaming their reactions and commentary in regards to the competitors after they famous that the swimming occasion had been canceled.

“Which makes me assume one thing dangerous occurred, if they need everybody to go away” one of many podcasters stated.

The group then started enjoying audio from a lady who was explaining the state of affairs.

“It seems to be like now we have a severe difficulty on our arms,” the girl might be heard saying.

The group then obtained a name from somebody who was apparently on the scene and requested them to chop off their livestream. 

“Guys we’ll have to finish the stream,” one of many podcasters stated. “It seems to be like one thing severe has occurred.”

The highest 40 women and men from seven qualifying competitions worldwide compete within the CrossFit video games.  

The primary CrossFit Video games occasion was held in 2007. That is the primary 12 months CrossFit has held its annual video games in Texas versus its typical location in Madison, Wisconsin. CrossFit’s CEO introduced the transfer in 2023 and touted the Dallas-Fort Value Worldwide Airport as a key driver of the transfer. 

The competitors will embody crew and particular person occasions and the competitors workouts will check athlete’s health in ten areas: Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, flexibility, energy, coordination, agility, stability, and accuracy. Usually the challenges are unknown till the athletes step into the competitors, officers say.

WFAA spoke with a few witnesses on the occasion, together with a fellow CrossFit athlete from Canada. 

Fort Value Mayor Mattie Parker launched the next assertion:

“We’re profoundly saddened by the tragic lack of a CrossFit athlete throughout a CrossFit Video games swimming occasion this morning. Our hearts exit to the athlete’s household, buddies and the complete CrossFit group. We take nice pleasure in being the host metropolis for the CrossFit Video games and stay dedicated to working carefully with CrossFit to offer a supportive setting for all athletes, spectators and guests. As such, now we have coordinated psychological well being and grief counselors to assist these in want throughout troublesome time.”