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....
The issue wasn't really the hot water, it was the fact that the field was not being monitered Swimmers can experience problems regardless of water conditions and anyone who could no longer continue in that race was a goner. :(
Yeah, I am worried that people are going to focus on the temperature of the water rather than the race directors failing to take the standard precautions. What's next -- no more cold water swims? No more strong currents? No more waves? Those of us who like open water swimming accept that these are risky activities (and like that challenge) and I'd hate to see someone say that we can only swim under "safe" conditions. But accepting some risk usually goes along with an understanding that basic precautions were taken. That's really the issue here.
The issue wasn't really the hot water, it was the fact that the field was not being monitered Swimmers can experience problems regardless of water conditions and anyone who could no longer continue in that race was a goner. :(
Yeah, I am worried that people are going to focus on the temperature of the water rather than the race directors failing to take the standard precautions. What's next -- no more cold water swims? No more strong currents? No more waves? Those of us who like open water swimming accept that these are risky activities (and like that challenge) and I'd hate to see someone say that we can only swim under "safe" conditions. But accepting some risk usually goes along with an understanding that basic precautions were taken. That's really the issue here.
