An 18-year-old surfer, Jackson James Rice, has died following a diving accident, his father reported on Monday. Rice was selected to compete for the Pacific island nation of Tonga in kitefoil surfing at the Olympic Games later this summer.
The 18-year-old died in connection with a freediving accident. He fainted in the water and could not be resuscitated.
"I was blessed with the best brother in the whole world, and it hurts me to announce that he has now passed away", writes his sister Lily on social media and continues:
"He was incredible at kitesurfing, and I know he would have come home from the Olympic Games with a big, shiny medal. He had so many incredible friends all over the world."
