CrossFit Games Athlete Lazar Dukic Dies From Drowning Moments Before Crossing Finish Line In Tragic Video

This has to be one of the most tragic, disturbing sports-related incidents ever captured on video. Lazar Dukic was just about to finish his swimming run in the CrossFit Games in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday before submerging just before the finish.

Apparently bystanders, event organizers, safety crews and whomever was responsible for the well-being of all athletes figured Dukic would surface eventually, but the lack of action taken at the scene proved fatal.

Dukic was confirmed dead in a statement from CrossFit CEO Don Faul.

I’m not here to speculate about what could or should’ve been done, but there’s at least some credence to the notion that some people were turned away from their efforts to potentially rescue Dukic.

Understanding that much of the purpose of the CrossFit Games is to showcase extraordinary athleticism under extreme circumstances, this was clearly a case of an exhausted competitor who couldn’t carry on, and there should’ve been better safety protocols in place to ensure his safety. There’s no reason Dukic should’ve lost his life, especially in view of so many people who could’ve raced to his rescue.

With regard to how extreme these CrossFit Games were, most events in Fort Worth are to be held indoors since the heat in that area of the U.S. is so intense. On this particular day, the forecast listed the high temperature at 104 degrees. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but even for an aquathlon — a 3.5-mile run followed by an 800m swim — that’s a big ask for any well-conditioned athlete.

In lieu of any personal experience as a first responder, here was a woman with that background responding to the CrossFit Games directly about how they mishandled the situation and cost Lazar Dukic his life.