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CrossFit Games confirm death of Lazar Dukic after he disappeared under water while swimming at event in Texas
Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic has died after taking part in a swimming event at the CrossFit Games in Texas, event organizers have confirmed.
Dukic, 28, vanished in the water during a live-streaming of the games, while he competed on Marine Creek Lake near the city of Fort Worth in Texas on Thursday morning.
He was last seen about 100 meters from the end of the 800-meter swimming segment in Fort Worth, Texas, according to Metro.
Emergency services were called after his team alerted organizers that he never emerged from the water.
A body was recovered an hour later. The Tarrant County medical examiner's office has not yet listed his cause of death.
Lazar Dukic, of Serbia, 28, died while competing in a CrossFit Games swimming event on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, at a lake in Texas
The Fort Worth Fire Department responded to the possible drowning at Marine Creek Lake on Thursday morning during a CrossFit Games event
Dukic, 28, vanished in the water during a live-streaming of the games, while he competed on Marine Creek Lake near the city of Fort Worth in Texas on Thursday morning
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the event on Thursday included a 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometer) run followed by an 800-meter (0.5-mile) swim.
The newspaper said an estimated 10,000 people were in the area for the games, which began Thursday and were set to run through Sunday.
Kaitlin Pritchard told the newspaper that she was standing by the finish line when she saw Dukic approach. She said he was among swimmers she noticed had changed up their swimming patterns, which she thought could have been because they were tired from the run.
Pritchard saw people she assumed were lifeguards on paddle-boards on the lake but didn't notice any of them jumped in to try to rescue anyone, she said.
A statement from the games' organizers read: 'We are devastated by the passing of Lazar Dukic.
'Our hearts are with Lazar's entire family, friends, and fellow athletes.
'Out of respect for the family and in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department, we will share updates when possible.'
The sporting event's organiszers also paid tribute to Dukic, saying: 'Lazar was one of our sport's most talented competitors, but was much more than an athlete. He was a son, a brother, and a friend to practically everyone who knew him. Fiercely competitive, incurably joyful and uncommonly kind, Lazar was the sun of any room he was in. The loss of his light is inconceivable.'
The rest of Thursday's events were suspended and organiszers said they were 'fully cooperating with authorities', a separate statement said.
Dukic had his CrossFit debut in 2021 after being introduced to the sport by his brother Luka
According to the CrossFit website, Dukic ranked as Serbia's third best CrossFit athlete this year
Videos posted to social media appear to show a man struggling to swim during the race and bobbing in the water until he he goes under.
A man does appear to jump in the water to save the person drowning, a video shows.
CrossFit CEO Don Faul said during a press conference: 'There's a lot of people in the community who are hurting right now.
'A lot of people are mourning. We want to do everything we can to support the community, to support the family.'
He also said a 'fully documented safety plan' had been in place and that safety personnel were onsite throughout the event.
Dukic had his CrossFit debut in 2021
A GoFundMe to support Dukic's family that began with a target of $200,000 has already raised $264,425.
According to the fundraising site, Dukic had his CrossFit debut in 2021 after being introduced to the sport by his brother Luka.
According to the CrossFit website, Dukic ranked as Serbia's third best CrossFit athlete this year. He is also ranked 88th worldwide in the male category.
Dukic had said he was hoping to make the podium this season.
CrossFit Games is an annual sporting competition in which athletes participate in various events, including conditioning exercises, weightlifting, swimming and cycling.