By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
Tragedy struck the Egyptian swimming community on Wednesday, December 3, as a 12-year-old swimmer died during the National Under-12 Championships in Cairo.
Youssef Mohamed was swimming his heat of the 50 backstroke when he lost consciousness and sunk to the bottom of the pool.
According to Ahram Online, Mohamed lay at the bottom of the pool for three and a half minutes, with the next race already starting, before being noticed by another athlete.
He was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and not breathing. Medical staff administered three electric shocks, intubated him, placed him on mechanical ventilation, and gave emergency medications. After being moved to the ICU, he suffered an additional cardiac arrest, and despite multiple rounds of CPR, doctors were unable to revive him.
Parents at the event reported that lifeguards and lane timekeepers were not at their posts when Mohamed lost consciousness, and that no defibrillator was on site.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports immediately launched an investigation, and have since heard testimony from the victim’s father, another swimmer’s father, and Mohamed’s coach, as well as statements from more than twenty other witnesses. The findings indicate negligence by meet organizers, lifeguards, and referees contributed to the death.
Prosecutors also report that both the Egyptian Swimming Federation and Al-Zohour Sporting Club failed to comply with the Sports Law, including safety measures for participating athletes and the Medical Code for Athletes established under Ministerial Decree No. 1642 of 2024, which mandates pre-competition medical evaluations.
The prosecution has summoned the President of the Egyptian Swimming Federation, relevant officials, and officials from Al-Zohour Sporting Club to provide testimony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Farida Osman, Egypt’s most successful swimmer and a three-time World Championships medalist, posted a video to her Instagram account about the death, saying, “I am extremely sad, my heart is broken that we lost a promising champion, one of Egypt’s heroes. I want to get in touch with Youssef’s family because I want to offer my condolences, and may God give them patience and comfort their hearts.”
“I have spoken before about the change and development that must happen in Egyptian swimming, but reaching the point where a 12-year-old boy dies in a national championship is a red line. This must stop,” Osman continued. “When I saw the old videos of Youssef and swimmers from all age groups standing by him, it showed that he is one of us; all of us feel the pain, and I am with them. God willing, God will bring Youssef justice.”
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