On 23 October 2010 in Fujairah, a 26-year-old swimmer died following a cardiac arrest during a world open water competition in the United Arab Emirates.

The athlete, who was in perfect physical condition and had been a bronze medallist at the last world championships in the discipline, showed signs of exhaustion during the third of the five laps of the demanding competition and died of a cardiac arrest in the middle of the race.

The ambulance remained on the shore for a long time but there was no hope and the unfortunate man’s comrades, as well as the leaders of the international federation who were there, had to come to terms with the tragic outcome.

Although the causes of death were not clearly defined, IMSSA SA arranged for the repatriation of his remains to the USA, where the deceased lived, and covered the funeral costs, as well as the payment of a death benefit to the family.