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....
Unfortunately all the facts of this tragedy have not been disclosed or uncovered, putting my lawyer hat on , I believe the following questions need to be answered:
1. What is the safety protocol at FINA swims and was it followed, and is it different from the protocol of open water races in the US
for example how many lifeguards, boats , kayaks, surfboards are required , it is my understanding that the minimum # is at least one lifeguard per ten swimmers, I have read accounts that the race had three jetskis and the officials boat, doesn't seem like a sufficient #
2. were the people on the jetskis and the officials boat qualified
3. did they have medical personnel on site
4. How many swimmers were in the race
5. What was the course? most FINA races are 2000 meter loops, if that was the case, that should have been an easier race to monitor
6 If you look at the results of elite 10k races, the difference between the leaders and slowest swimmer is maybe 10 minutes, again that should have been easier to monitor than your typical USMS OW swim or triatholon when the difference between the leaders and the slowest swimmer can be over 30 minutes, for example look at the results of the Donner Lake swim or Waikiki Open Water Swim
6. If Fran was struggling why wasn't rescue/safety personnel notified
I am sure that these questions and others will be answered
Unfortunately all the facts of this tragedy have not been disclosed or uncovered, putting my lawyer hat on , I believe the following questions need to be answered:
1. What is the safety protocol at FINA swims and was it followed, and is it different from the protocol of open water races in the US
for example how many lifeguards, boats , kayaks, surfboards are required , it is my understanding that the minimum # is at least one lifeguard per ten swimmers, I have read accounts that the race had three jetskis and the officials boat, doesn't seem like a sufficient #
2. were the people on the jetskis and the officials boat qualified
3. did they have medical personnel on site
4. How many swimmers were in the race
5. What was the course? most FINA races are 2000 meter loops, if that was the case, that should have been an easier race to monitor
6 If you look at the results of elite 10k races, the difference between the leaders and slowest swimmer is maybe 10 minutes, again that should have been easier to monitor than your typical USMS OW swim or triatholon when the difference between the leaders and the slowest swimmer can be over 30 minutes, for example look at the results of the Donner Lake swim or Waikiki Open Water Swim
6. If Fran was struggling why wasn't rescue/safety personnel notified
I am sure that these questions and others will be answered
