Eyewitnesses speak out after athlete drowns during Crossfit Games

Lazar Dukic, 28, was near the end of the annual event’s swimming portion in Fort Worth, Texas, when he went under.

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[RogueCylon]

They didn’t have the usual safety support. Cost savings on CrossFit side. Did you see divers and paramedics supporting? The “lifeguards” were volunteers. He was in distress way before the drowning. Taking his cap off, changing his strokes. No one checked on him, and ultimately no one supported him. This was pure negligence.

[namastemcl]

I have done several paddlboard safety events for Ironman MD. Those people on the boards clearly were not trained to recognize signs of drowning. When we are out on the water we are literally a few feet from the athletes at all times. We go through extensive training to respond in seconds. There also did not appear to be any powered watercraft out there either. This a tragedy that should not have happened.

[bijalpanwala]

It was not a 3.5hr run it was a 3.5 mile run.

[altolove]

2 lifeguards for 79 people in open water. That’s not a safety protocol, It’s a tragedy that could have been avoided

[thereason]

Lifeguards not paying attention or unqualified. No jet skis, boats, safety crew within feet of swimmers following closely. Easily was avoidable.

[NotSteve]

Please learn to pronounce his first name correctly. Also it wasn’t a 3 1/2 hour run, it was 3.5 miles. Slightly more than a 5K.

[aristotlekumpis]

The swim should be first. No question about it. It's sad.

[DAcaveman]

The show just MUST go on. To the organisers: your denial meets with ego and ended up in a fatality.

[Dancinontiktok]

Why didn't anyone get in the water who could swim and go and rescue him if they saw him struggling!

[charlesbarkely]

They're gonna get sued into oblivion for not having adequate/competent lifeguards

[Siamotutti]

For those in the comments: as a person who has lifeguard training, you can't possibly blaim the other athletes. It is very very unlikely that during a competition you would recognise the signs of drowning unless it happens right in front of you. Drowning is not loud as shown in movies, drowning more often than not hopes silently because the person that is fighting for their life can't really scream for help (trying to catch a breath, water in the lungs, exhaustion etc etc). However traind lifeguard should be able to recognise the singing form someone struggling and intervene ahead of time especially in open waters where you have very little chance to find someone in time once they are under water. However I will also not blame the lifeguards on standby because they were very clearly understaffed. I blame CrossFit. First and foremost for programming a swim AFTER a run, which is in itself something no other sport does for those exact reasons (triathlon for example puts swimming first because of the greatest riskt, and running last for the smalest risk), secondly for not having enough staff, for not providing the apropriat swimming cap...

[krissy]

How sad!!! I have tremendous respect for people who compete in these. I was an open water swimmer and I can’t imagine running first then swimming. It’s exhausting - RIP- so so sad prayers to
His family

[vyepez]

Crossfit is live at the moment like nothing happened, what a disgusting sport

[rosieo]

There’s a reason the swim is always first in triathlons. The safety plan had 2 guards on SUPs (horrible idea) within 50 ft of the man that drowned because they didn’t recognize a distressed swimmer. Also the ratio of guards to swimmers was TERRIBLE. I hope his family takes legal action. Many prayers to them as losing their family member was completely avoidable.

[KeithSergent]

That's embarrassing. To hold an event like this and allow someone to die.

[Mike-cptj]

Castro's tremendous programming: Swim after run, snatch for reps for time.. SMH

[ShanaAlversonFitness]

As a 4x CrossFit athlete I can say it was just a matter of time before this happened.

[kinseybruno]

The fact that this wasn’t in a pool was obviously deadly.
How can they expect these people to do an aquathalon in open water and not put lifeguards in boats? Or have some diver on hand? Reckless.
Furthermore in the video I see two “lifeguards” on SUP boards… just completely awful. Did many of these athletes even have experience swimming in open water??? I cannot believe the negligence here

[onekewlbraddah]

Should of had lifeguards sitting on surfboards and jetski's rookies.

[tomoldinho]

I do believe in actual triathlon, part of the reason the swim is first is to avoid something like this happening.