A young gymgoer suddenly dropped dead while participating in a CrossFit competition in Mexico.
Nayeli Clemente, 24, was competing in the Choula Games, a CrossFit licensed event in San Andrés Cholula in southeastern Mexico, on May 2 in 95-degree heat.
CrossFit is a high-intensity workout program that has gained popularity in recent years around the world.
It involves movements like squats, push-ups, and weightlifting, with a focus on speed, intensity, and variety in a group setting.
During one of the physical tests, the student, who was from the nearby city of Xalapa, began struggling to breathe and fainted, according to Jam Press.
It was a grueling relay-style race called the ‘Team Pyramid Run,’ where team members take turns running increasingly longer distances before working their way back down.
The athlete had to be given CPR by a doctor, Daniela Castruita, who was in the crowd and managed to briefly stabilize her before an ambulance arrived.
According to Clemente’s team, who released a statement while she was in hospital, the medical team was allegedly “slow” and “disorganized” in responding to the emergency.
“At a critical moment, where every second counted, the medical staff contracted by the event organizers did not respond to the preparation or the necessary resources,” they claimed.
“The number of paramedics and ambulances was insufficient for the magnitude of the event, and there was no rapid access to the pyramid.
“(They did) not use the basic equipment. The breathing/oxygen machine in the ambulance was not connected at the time.”
Clemente was taken to a hospital where she passed away after reportedly suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest, as reported by NeedToKnow.
According to the Heart Foundation, a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, cutting off oxygen to the brain and vital organs.
Performing intense exercise in high temperatures can increase the risk of cardiac arrest, as it can put strain on the cardiovascular system.
Cholula Games has faced additional criticism for continuing the competition on the day she died, despite the tragedy.
The organization has since released a statement after the athlete’s passing.
“During the main event of the Cholula Games, an athlete developed a medical complication,” they said.
“She was treated by the event’s medical team and transported alive to a private hospital, where she sadly died the following day.
“The Cholula Games has been in constant communication with the athlete’s family since the incident.
“We remain in contact with them to provide them with all the support they need during this difficult time.”
Clemente’s brother, Kevin Armando Hernández Clemente, started a GoFundMe while she was in the hospital to “help us save Nayeli’s life.”
He was able to raise around $270,000 to cover his sister’s medical costs.
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