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 think it must be remembered that when people are doing these OW swims, that they are all pushing themselves to their own personal limits. That limit for elite athletes such as Fran Crippen will be at a much faster pace than your typical weekend warrior, but nevertheless everyone will be pushing hard. And I think this has been mentioned before but, you push yourself over the limit in a run, you will collapse in full view of the spectators and the rest of the field, collapse out in the ocean or a lake and sadly, you are much less visible. This is what makes OW inherently more dangerous and is where the safety measures need to be addressed. Just my :2cents:
I think it must be remembered that when people are doing these OW swims, that they are all pushing themselves to their own personal limits. That limit for elite athletes such as Fran Crippen will be at a much faster pace than your typical weekend warrior, but nevertheless everyone will be pushing hard. And I think this has been mentioned before but, you push yourself over the limit in a run, you will collapse in full view of the spectators and the rest of the field, collapse out in the ocean or a lake and sadly, you are much less visible. This is what makes OW inherently more dangerous and is where the safety measures need to be addressed. Just my :2cents:
