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 understand that people can have strongly voiced differences of opinion, but this thread doesn't really seem the proper place. Agreed?
I agree entirely. This was a tragic event. A wonderful man and a great swimmer died and, from what it seems, his death was preventable. We ought to be concerned about safety precautions, but insulting each other over what the proper precautions should be is simply in bad taste. Let's focus on how to prevent this from happening again and consider all the factors: a lack of boats in the water, the high water temperature (in salt water), and the intense heat. We should remember that three other swimmers were taken to the hospital for heat-related symptoms.
Fran Crippen was a great swimmer. This was a sad event for swimming.
I understand that people can have strongly voiced differences of opinion, but this thread doesn't really seem the proper place. Agreed?
I agree entirely. This was a tragic event. A wonderful man and a great swimmer died and, from what it seems, his death was preventable. We ought to be concerned about safety precautions, but insulting each other over what the proper precautions should be is simply in bad taste. Let's focus on how to prevent this from happening again and consider all the factors: a lack of boats in the water, the high water temperature (in salt water), and the intense heat. We should remember that three other swimmers were taken to the hospital for heat-related symptoms.
Fran Crippen was a great swimmer. This was a sad event for swimming.
