Serbian CrossFit competitor horrifically passes away after mid-race accident

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Graham Montgomery
August 8, 2024 (10:11 PM)

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Serbian CrossFit athlete Lazar Dukic passed away today after an accident occurred just before the finish line.

Dukic was participating in the 2024 CrossFit games which are taking place in Fort Worth, Texas this year. The last stretch of the race was a swim across Marine Creek Lake, with competitors crossing the lake to reach the finish line just across the other shore. Sadly, Dukic never made it to the finish line.

What makes this tragedy even worse is that several spectators in the crowd noticed that Dukic was struggling before he went under. Obviously, when he did not resurface quickly, those spectators' fears began to grow, with several apparently attempting to intervene themselves, but event coordinators turned them away.

Furthermore, two event staff members were standing on paddleboards in the lake, mere meters away from where he drowned. There is little doubt that at least one of them saw him struggling, but both refused to help. Presumably, their sole job was to act as lifeguards for the event, so this is even more damning for them. The event itself and certain individuals working for it could even face legal liability for a failure to enact safety protocols and other measures to ensure Dukic's safety. This goes even beyond that though. On a basic human level, someone should have at least made an attempt to save his life. Sadly and shockingly, that never happened.

One fan pointed out that safety at the CrossFit games has always been an issue. It seems like it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

What makes this tragic accident so shocking is that there were many people in the area, presumably lifeguards included, who could have helped him. Even spectators were trying to help but they were turned away. Hopefully, a full investigation will hold those who were responsible for the athlete's safety accountable.

Source: MarkerZone
Serbian swimmer Lazar Dukic tragically passes away after drowning mid-race