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....
Parents
Former Member
We had our Federation WPSF World Professional Swimming Federation. Our main goal was to have larger prize money for each race, and have them distribute the money better. Safety issues re protection in the water such as close surveilance. Most of our races had a boat beside every swimmer. We tried to have the water temperature above 60 degrees but were never able to get that to happen. Race officials may say the water was 60 plus degrees but in the cross lake Ontario swim it was a varied temperature of 48 degrees to 52 degrees. Another race the officials said it was 64 and my thermometer said 52. Hey we swam anyway we wanted prize money. The guys who could not swim in cold water just got out. Hot water was our responsibility. Take lots of liquid along and salt tablets.
We had our Federation WPSF World Professional Swimming Federation. Our main goal was to have larger prize money for each race, and have them distribute the money better. Safety issues re protection in the water such as close surveilance. Most of our races had a boat beside every swimmer. We tried to have the water temperature above 60 degrees but were never able to get that to happen. Race officials may say the water was 60 plus degrees but in the cross lake Ontario swim it was a varied temperature of 48 degrees to 52 degrees. Another race the officials said it was 64 and my thermometer said 52. Hey we swam anyway we wanted prize money. The guys who could not swim in cold water just got out. Hot water was our responsibility. Take lots of liquid along and salt tablets.
