Identity of dead body pulled out of the water near site of 2024 CrossFit Games confirmed

Organizers of the 2024 CrossFit Games have confirmed the death of an unnamed athlete after a body was pulled out of the Marine Creek Reservoir on Thursday morning. Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic had been reported missing in the water after the opening event of the Games, which are taking place at Marine Creek Lake, near Fort Worth in Texas.

Late on Friday the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Lazar Dukic, 28, who had apparently had drowned during the swimming event.

28-year-old Dukic had been among the leaders in a combined running and swimming event with only a short distance remaining, but failed to finish.

CrossFit confirmed the sad news in a statement on social media: “CrossFit is deeply saddened by the death of a CrossFit Games comPetitor during the swimming portion of Individual Event 1 at the 2024 CrossFit Games. We are fully cooperating with authorities and doing everything we can to support the family at this time. The remainder of today’s events have been suspended. The well-being of comPetitors is our first priority and we are heartbroken by this tragic event”.

Spectators “stopped” from rescuing Dukic

On social media, a number of people posted clips of a live stream of the event, which showed the Serb struggling in the water just 100 meters or so before the finish line. They questioned why the CrossFit Games safety team didn’t intervene sooner, with some claiming spectators were turned away from attempting to rescue Dukic.

Organizers confirm identity of athlete found in the water

CBS News Texas had earlier reported that images from a helicopter flying over the reservoir showed first responders pulling a body out of the water and putting it in a bodybag, with a number of CrossFit Games competitors seemingly overlooking the reservoir.

Event organizers had withheld information regarding the unnamed athlete on Thursday afternoon with local police explaining his identity wouldn’t be released until family members had been notified and formal identification had taken place.