Tragedy in the world of sport after news of the 18-year-old’s premature death broke Jackson James Rice, a very young kitesurfing champion expected at the Paris Olympic Games. The boy unfortunately died following a dramatic and sudden accident.
What happened
According to reports in the foreign press, Jackson James Rice lost his life last year Saturday 15 June, while he was free diving from a boat in Faleloa, Ha’apai, Tonga. It is feared that the boy may have had a “blackout” while he was submerged in shallow water. After never seeing him resurface, the 18-year-old was recovered lifeless around 12.15pm. His body was under the boat. Unfortunately nothing could be done to save his life, attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation were useless.
Jackson, son of Darren and Nina, both of British origins, was born in the United States and then moved with his family to Tonga. He grew up in Haʻapai, where his parents still run a tourist hotel today. The boy was a champion of kitesurfing and was due to take part in the 2024 Olympics, representing Tonga. Father Darren Rice spoke about the terrible accident, interviewed by Matangi Tonga News. He was known to his family and friends as JJ. The boy was happy to leave for Olympic Games and represent Tonga, of which he now felt like a citizen. After an eighth-place finish at the Sail Sydney event, Jackson James Rice had earned the chance to compete at the Olympics.
The sister of the young man, Lily Rice, wrote a touching message dedicated to her brother on Facebook. “I was blessed to have the most amazing brother in the world and it pains me to say that he has passed away.”, the girl wrote. “He was an amazing kitefoiler and would get to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medal… he made so many amazing friends all over the world“, he added.
The blackout
According to what was reported by National Library of Medicinea blackout in shallow water consists in the loss of
consciousness due to cerebral hypoxia. The condition is often caused by hyperventilation before a dive, which lowers carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and delays the diver’s need to breathe.
