Lifeguard criticizes CrossFit Games safety after Lazar Dukic's drowning (2024)

Lazar Dukic died during a CrossFit swimming event (Image: Lazar ukic/Facebook)

A former lifeguard has slammed the CrossFit Games after Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic, 28, tragically died during a swimming event in Texas. Dukic went missing in the water during a live-streamed competition at Marine Creek Lake near Fort Worth on Thursday. A body was subsequently found and confirmed to be that of the athlete.

• Lazar Dukic's brother shares tribute after crossfit athlete's death during event
• U.S. athlete shows poor quality of Olympic medals that 'chip off' a week later

Harrowing clips from the event shared on social media show a moment from the live stream where an athlete seems to struggle to stay afloat in the background near the finish line as two paddleboarders are close by but do not assist the flailing swimmer.

An outraged former lifeguard heavily criticized the event's safety measures and organizers for overlooking Dukic's difficulties, insisting that those negligent must face consequences. "I was a lifeguard while in HS. For 3 years I guarded at a local pond," they tweeted.You have no idea how incensed I am watching this video where there is a clear active drowning victim. This should result in lawsuits and jail time for the people responsible," he wrote on X.

The person further commented: "It takes me seconds to recognize this. Where were the lifeguards? Where were the other competitors? Where were the event organizer? The safety boats? There had better be names of the people accountable for this absolute miscarriage of water safety standards".

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

• Snoop Dogg and Billie Eilish in special show to throw forward to LA Olympics
• duch*ess Sophie sparks royal fan frenzy in 'perfect' £1,198 purple floral dress
• Ryan Seacrest tries his hand at 'surviving the Olympics' as fans gush

Lazar Dukic died during a CrossFit Games contest in Fort Worth, Texas (Image: CrossFit Games)

Other users echoed their reactions to Dukic's death, criticizing the perplexing decision to have competitors swim 800 meters after a 3.5-mile run under the sweltering Texas sun. "If nothing else, putting the swim as the last event is sheer recklessness. There's a reason ALL triathlons start with the swim," one user sharply remarked.

Another individual expressed shock over the apparent absence of sufficient supervision during the event, they added: "I was a lifeguard at a lake summer camp and agree. It's very obvious he's in distress. How was there nobody watching or how did they miss this. I love CrossFit and love watching the games but this looks to be negligent to me."

In the wake of the incident, Thursday's subsequent events were called off, with the organizers stating that they were "fully cooperating with authorities" A GoFundMe page was established to support Dukic's family, aiming for $200,000. As donations continue to pour in, they have exceeded $280,000 at last count.

The fundraising page details Dukic's ascent in CrossFit, starting from his introduction by his brother Luka and leading up to his place as Serbia's third-ranked and world's 88th-ranked male CrossFit athlete.

CrossFit's chiefs paid tribute to Dukic in a statement, which read: "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."