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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Former Member
I agree. I've been thinking about this for a while and the safety benefit makes it even more appealing. I said earlier "the technology is there." I still believe that's true, but that doesn't mean there's a unit on the market that would be small enough, cheap enough and waterproof. Maybe this is a new product idea for Finis!
The technology is there.
Satellite images of guided missiles hitting sheds in a field and infra red images of SF troops on the ground and in water. All these things are in the news, movies or TV shows weekly.
Even helicopters flying above with spotters is an option.
I don't think it's a matter of gadgetry, I think it's a matter of basics.
10 swimmers per spotter etc. A spotter every 100 yards or so. The exact specifics needed I don't know.
It just reemphasizes what most of us know but may ignore ourselves from time to time, never swim without adequate supervision, or at least knowing that something can go wrong for any of us at any time. FINA have to answer for what is "adequate," and if "adequate" was met, maybe the standard needs to be changed. If it was not "adequate" to the current guidelines then someone needs to be held accountable.
I think it's a tragic convergence of conditions, supervision and possibly an anomaly of an "off day" in terms of general health for a fit and capable individual.
I agree. I've been thinking about this for a while and the safety benefit makes it even more appealing. I said earlier "the technology is there." I still believe that's true, but that doesn't mean there's a unit on the market that would be small enough, cheap enough and waterproof. Maybe this is a new product idea for Finis!
The technology is there.
Satellite images of guided missiles hitting sheds in a field and infra red images of SF troops on the ground and in water. All these things are in the news, movies or TV shows weekly.
Even helicopters flying above with spotters is an option.
I don't think it's a matter of gadgetry, I think it's a matter of basics.
10 swimmers per spotter etc. A spotter every 100 yards or so. The exact specifics needed I don't know.
It just reemphasizes what most of us know but may ignore ourselves from time to time, never swim without adequate supervision, or at least knowing that something can go wrong for any of us at any time. FINA have to answer for what is "adequate," and if "adequate" was met, maybe the standard needs to be changed. If it was not "adequate" to the current guidelines then someone needs to be held accountable.
I think it's a tragic convergence of conditions, supervision and possibly an anomaly of an "off day" in terms of general health for a fit and capable individual.
