Fort Worth A CrossFit athlete who drowned Thursday morning in Marine Creek Lake has been identified.
Serbian Lazar Dukic, 28, died while swimming in the No. 1 individual event at the 2024 CrossFit Games, according to the Tarrant County Coroner’s Office and CrossFit CEO Don Fowle.
The Fort Worth Fire Department was called to assist Fort Worth police after the athlete went underwater around 8 a.m. and would not come out, according to Craig Trojack, a fire department spokesman.
With the help of a dive team and drones from the Fort Worth Police Department, the body was recovered about an hour later, Trojasek said.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the city has coordinated mental health and grief counselors to support those who may need them.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a CrossFit athlete competing in a swim at the CrossFit Games this morning,” Parker said. “Our hearts go out to the athlete’s family, friends and the entire CrossFit community.”
A CBS News Texas helicopter was flying over the lake and saw rescuers pulling a body from the water and putting it in a body bag. An eyewitness recounted the moments surrounding the drowning.
The rest of the events and activities scheduled for Thursday have been canceled, Fowle said.
“The safety of our competitors is our number one priority and we are deeply saddened by this tragic event,” CrossFit Posted on social media.
CrossFit is working closely with investigators as the community comes to terms with the fact that a young man died too soon.
“There are a lot of people in the community who are suffering right now and are grieving and they knew the athlete very well. They loved and respected this person. A lot of people are in mourning. We want to do everything we can to support the community and support the family,” Fowle said.
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A GoFundMe campaign set up for the Dukic family has raised more than $140,000.
Meanwhile, Fowle said his organization has obtained a permit and insurance certificate from the Tarrant Regional Water District.
“At an event like this, we have a fully documented safety plan. And as you know, we had safety personnel on site throughout the event,” Fowle said.
This is the first time the CrossFit Games have been held in Fort Worth. Previous locations include Carson, California, and Madison, Wisconsin.
The 2024 CrossFit Games kicked off on Thursday and will run through Sunday.
“After careful consideration and numerous conversations internally, with the athletes, and with the Lazar Djukic family, it has been decided that the CrossFit Games will continue through the remainder of the weekend at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas,” a message from the organization’s public relations firm read.
Friday’s events will begin with a special tribute to Dokic at Dickies Arena at 10 a.m.