The CrossFit Games in Texas have been stunned into silence and mourning after one of the triathlon competitors drowned moments from the finish line, with lifeguards seemingly unaware of his distress.
Lazar Dukic, Serbia’s third-ranked athlete, was competing in the event on Thursday, August 8 with his brother but tragedy struck when he disappeared under the waterline and wasn’t found until hours later when his body was recovered.
Video footage online showed the man looking in distress as he stopped progressing forwards and desperately tried to remain afloat, only to sadly die at the age of 28 in Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth.
“Absolutely devastated. I don’t know what to think and I’m almost in denial,” Learn said. “I saw him start to struggle.
“He started making little turns and trying to lift his head out of the water. At that moment we started shouting to the lifeguard that he needed help and in a few seconds he was under water. He never came back up.”
Learn also noted he saw the brother of the dead swimmer pacing the shoreline desperately looking for a sign of his lost fraternal bond.
This was the first time the event was held at Fort Worth instead of the traditional location of Madison, Wisconsin.
“Lazar was known for his kindness, humor and helpfulness,” a GoFundMe for the family said. “And brought a breath of fresh air wherever he went.
“Beyond his sporting achievements, Lazar was caring, humorous and tirelessly supported those around him.”
Why could lifeguards not save him?
As the leaders crossed the line and Dukic began to struggle, he was situated between two lifeguard rafts and essentially right in the center of them but neither managed to notice his struggle.
It appears from video footage that they watched the CrossFit winner take the finishing line and were subsequently oblivious to the tragedy unfolding over their shoulders in the deep water. So much so that when fans tried to intervene, they blocked them to protect other swimmers.