CrossFit athlete goes missing, dies during swimming competition in Texas lake

An athlete participating in the CrossFit Games was found dead after going missing underwater in the middle of a swimming competition in a lake in Texas.

ESPN, citing the Tarrant County medical examiner's office, reported that the athlete was identified as Lazar Dukic of Serbia. He was 28 years old.

The office has not specified the cause of his death.

In a news conference, CrossFit Chief Executive Officer Don Faul said they're "deeply saddened" by the athlete's passing. Faul didn't name him, though noted he died at Marine Creek Lake in Forth Worth. He added that they're working with authorities on their investigation.

According to a Fort Worth Fire Department official, they got a call around 8 a.m. to assist police because there "was a participant in the water that was down and hadn't been seen in some point in time," ESPN reported.

The official said they responded for search and rescue and were not on the scene when the initial call was made.

The athlete's body was found about an hour later.

Faul noted that CrossFit had safety personnel on-site at the event.

"We're doing everything in our power during this tragic time to support the family, to support our community," the CEO said.

CrossFit is a high-intensity fitness program incorporating elements from several sports and types of exercise.

According to its website, the CrossFit Games, first held in 2007, aim to "find the fittest athletes in the world." Its games change annually, and the details are often not announced until just before the event.

On the CrossFit website, Dukic is listed as the third-ranked CrossFit athlete in Serbia and the 88th in the world.