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
As a open water competitor I don't like Jet ski's zipping up and down the course while the race is on, they make waves and they do have fumes. They would be held in reserve to transport a swimmer back to shore in case of trouble. Nothing against tracking technology but I personally want to limit what is on my body. I would prefer plenty of old fashioned Kayak support with the jet ski's and or motor boats strategically located to assist and respond if notified of a swimmer in trouble. Make sure the kayak swim support is well versed in the safety protocols. Have a triple method of reporting an issue 1. Cell phone or walkie talkie 2. Some sort of visual method a flag that would be waved for example and 3. An audible method, one of those compressed air horns that could be sounded. Have several kayak supports be specifically tasked to monitor trailing swimmers.
Regarding the swim suits, at the FINA level not USMS, all suits had to be textile material no rubberized suits, however specifically for open water they could be chest to ankle. This was a compromise specifically to help protect open water swimmers from Jelly fish and sea lice etc.
www.fina.org/.../index.php
Note the asterisk for OWS only.
As a open water competitor I don't like Jet ski's zipping up and down the course while the race is on, they make waves and they do have fumes. They would be held in reserve to transport a swimmer back to shore in case of trouble. Nothing against tracking technology but I personally want to limit what is on my body. I would prefer plenty of old fashioned Kayak support with the jet ski's and or motor boats strategically located to assist and respond if notified of a swimmer in trouble. Make sure the kayak swim support is well versed in the safety protocols. Have a triple method of reporting an issue 1. Cell phone or walkie talkie 2. Some sort of visual method a flag that would be waved for example and 3. An audible method, one of those compressed air horns that could be sounded. Have several kayak supports be specifically tasked to monitor trailing swimmers.
Regarding the swim suits, at the FINA level not USMS, all suits had to be textile material no rubberized suits, however specifically for open water they could be chest to ankle. This was a compromise specifically to help protect open water swimmers from Jelly fish and sea lice etc.
www.fina.org/.../index.php
Note the asterisk for OWS only.
