Fran Crippen: Difference between revisions

While competing in an open water swimming race in [[Fujairah]], United Arab Emirates, teammate [[Alex Meyer]] noticed Crippen did not cross the line. After Meyer screamed for help, the other competing swimmers jumped back into the water to try to find Crippen. He was found unconscious near the final buoy, after two hours of searching by deep sea divers. He was rushed to the local hospital but later pronounced dead, though it was suspected he died on the scene. It is believed he died due to heat exhaustion (which may have led to drowning) during the final lap of the race. Winner [[Thomas Lurz]] and other swimmers said the water was above 30C. (86F.) and that several other swimmers, including two Americans and one Brazilian, had to be briefly hospitalized.<ref>[http://www.cbssports.com/worldsports/story/14182241/winner-rips-organizers-over-race-conditions-after-swimmers-death "Winner Rips Organizers Over Race Conditions", CBS Sports (October 24, 2010)]</ref>

[[FINA]] president [[Julio Maglione|Dr. Julio Maglione]] said it was the first death in any FINA event and an investigation was opened.<ref>{{cite news|title = Passages: Fran Crippen, 26 - FINA, USA Swimming, USOC Release Statements|last=| first=|url =http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/25369.asp#RT|newspaper =|publisher =''Swimming World Magazine''|date = 2010-10-23|archiveurl =http://www.webcitation.org/5thwNeDkT| archivedate = 2010-10-23| accessdate =2010-10-23}}</ref> Crippen had told his coach after 8 kilometers that he was feeling thirsty, yet continued with the race.