Full story:
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../25369.asp
Excerpt:
Passages: Fran Crippen, 26 - FINA, USA Swimming Release Statements -- October 23, 2010
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates, October 23. SHORTLY after the FINA Open Water 10K World Cup swim today in the UAE, United States swimmer Fran Crippen, 26, passed away after falling unconscious during the race.
With the water in the mid-to-high 80s, the competitors all finished and noticed that Crippen had not crossed the finish line. Meet management brought in deep sea divers, who found Crippen unconscious just before the final buoy nearly two hours later. He was transported to the Fujairah Hospital and later died according to information provided to Swimming World. Conflicting reports state that he was found dead on the course.
Crippen had shown signs of slowing down during the third lap of the five-lap race. When Crippen did not immediately finish, a fact noticed by teammate Alex Meyer who screamed for help, the competing swimmers rushed back into the water to help with the search.
Information provided to Swimming World demonstrates that the water was likely too hot for the event as several swimmers were treated for heat exhaustion after the race....
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I have a hard time putting any blame on the other swimmers. Who knows what they even saw? Perhaps Fran looked tired out there, but looking tired isn't reason enough for the other swimmers to interfere. I'm guessing by the time it was obvious that Fran was clearly in distress all the other swimmers had passed him by. However, this is exactly the kind of thing the safety personnel at the event should be looking for and it's a real shame they did not.
please don't interpret my previous comment as trying to assign blame to the other swimmers. i was merely trying to point out that Fran Crippin has exhibited sportsmanship above and beyond the norm for any sport. from the daily news of OW swimming":
But his presence was also felt and demonstrated in other ways. Jack Roach, National Junior Team Head Coach, said, "Even beyond his athletic performance, Fran did one of the most unselfish acts of sportsmanship I have ever seen. In the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships during the race, Fran slowed down and purposefully went over to help his teammate who was ill. He wanted to give him some encouragement because he knew he was not feeling well."
I have a hard time putting any blame on the other swimmers. Who knows what they even saw? Perhaps Fran looked tired out there, but looking tired isn't reason enough for the other swimmers to interfere. I'm guessing by the time it was obvious that Fran was clearly in distress all the other swimmers had passed him by. However, this is exactly the kind of thing the safety personnel at the event should be looking for and it's a real shame they did not.
please don't interpret my previous comment as trying to assign blame to the other swimmers. i was merely trying to point out that Fran Crippin has exhibited sportsmanship above and beyond the norm for any sport. from the daily news of OW swimming":
But his presence was also felt and demonstrated in other ways. Jack Roach, National Junior Team Head Coach, said, "Even beyond his athletic performance, Fran did one of the most unselfish acts of sportsmanship I have ever seen. In the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships during the race, Fran slowed down and purposefully went over to help his teammate who was ill. He wanted to give him some encouragement because he knew he was not feeling well."
