Lazar Đukić identified as CrossFit Games swimmer who drowned after being seen gasping for air on livestream

A CROSSFIT athlete died on Thursday morning while participating in the annual athletic event.

Lazar Đukić was identified as the swimmer who drowned while competing in the first competition of the day in the CrossFit Games.

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Viewers grew concerned when they noticed Lazar Đukić disappeared from the live stream[/caption]

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Horrifying footage showed a swimmer struggling to stay afloat during the competition[/caption]

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Đukić’s body was recovered after a search in the Marine Creek Reservoir[/caption]

Fans of the CrossFit Games were just starting to tune into the live stream when Đukić was seen struggling and vanished underwater.

Emergency crews then responded to calls at around 8 am on Thursday at Marine Creek Lake in Fort Worth, Texas – just an hour after the run-swim competition started.

Viewers watching the live stream noticed Đukić disappear and feared the worst.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner confirmed to local ABC affiliate, WFAA News that the body pulled from the lake was Đukić.

Đukić was 28 years old and was a CrossFit athlete from Serbia.

He was excited to participate in the games, sharing a video compilation of his training just a day before his death.

Đukić said in the video that his goal was to make the podium and stay there for “multiple years.”

When asked what CrossFit means to him, he joked, “It’s the only thing I’m good at so why not just do it?!”

Đukić then opened up about competing in the games alongside his brother, Luka.

“I know somebody is working all the time next to me,” Đukić said with a smile.

“He pushes me hard, both mentally and physically and I can’t let my brother beat me,” Đukić laughed.

“It’s a great push to have him and I was so happy to see him qualify,” he said of Luka.

Luka is also a CrossFit athlete and was competing in this year’s game alongside Đukić.

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CrossFit CEO Don Faul told reporters that they were collaborating with police on the investigation[/caption]

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CrossFit athlete Cole Learn opened up about the tragic incident[/caption]

‘CRUSHED’

CrossFit fans are sending condolences and expressing their sadness in the comments of Đukić’s last post.

“I’m so sorry the sport you loved couldn’t do what they should to save you,” one comment read.

“Crushed. Having just done water support for a triathlon four days ago I’m completely shocked at the lack of paddle boarders, kayakers, and boats in the water for people who do not often open water swim. Sending all my love to this athlete, family, & friends,” another added.

“An absolute tragedy. To hear someone plan their future in something that ripped it away from him is heartbreaking in every way,” a third added.

ATHLETE’S DESPERATE ATTEMPT

Fellow CrossFit athlete Cole Learn shared a heartbreaking post on Instagram about the tragic event.

“For everybody asking for updates at the CrossFit Games, we watched Lazar go under and we screamed for lifeguards,” Learn said through tears in a video posted to his Story.

“We were pretty far away so it was tough to do anything else but we were yelling for lifeguards.”

Learn said that the lifeguard couldn’t hear the cries for help and that the swimmer “just never came back up.”

“I’m absolutely devastated and that’s not something that I wanted to watch,” he added.

CROSSFIT SPEAKS OUT

Police confirmed to The U.S. Sun that they responded to the incident and the athlete was found dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives have been notified of the incident.

“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,” CrossFit said in a statement.

“We are fully cooperating with authorities and doing everything we can to support the family at this time.

The organization canceled the rest of the day’s events after Đukić’s death.

“The well-being of competitors is our first priority and we are heartbroken by this tragic event.”

CrossFit CEO Don Faul spoke to reporters later in the day at a press conference and held back tears while discussing the tragic death of the athlete.

“We’re doing everything in our power during this tragic time to support the family, to support our community,” Faul said.

He added that CrossFit was collaborating closely with authorities on the investigation.

CrossFit later shared a statement honoring Đukić, writing, “We are devastated by the passing of Lazar Đukić. Our hearts are with Lazar’s entire family, friends, and fellow athletes.”

“Out of respect for the family and in cooperation with the Fort Worth Police Department, we will share updates when possible.”

LIVE STREAM HORROR

Before reports of the drowning came in, there had already been speculation that a swimmer vanished during the competition.

Concerns started when footage from the CrossFit Games showed a competitor struggling in the water during the event.

On the live stream, a swimmer, now identified as Đukić, could be seen slowing down and gasping for air before disappearing beneath the surface.

The event was being live-streamed on multiple platforms, but the video feed was abruptly cut and no longer appears online.

This was the first day of the competition, which was set to continue until Sunday.

The CrossFit Games feature 40 men and 40 women competing to win the top prize of $315,000.

The Games have not announced whether events scheduled for Friday and Saturday will continue.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to CrossFit Games for further comment.

The run-swim event was scheduled to kick off the competitions, which included a 3.5-mile run and an 800-meter swim.

Other events called the Hammer Down and the Amanda 0.45 have been canceled.

The Track and Field event and Clean Ladder are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

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Emergency responders arrived early on Thursday morning to a drowning[/caption]

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Thursday’s run-swim event started at 7 am[/caption]

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The drowning was reported an hour after Thursday’s run-swim competition started[/caption]