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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This is horrific. And totally preventable. I cannot wrap my head around why this young man was on the bottom of the pool for that long. Deepest condolences to his family.
A very tragic incident.
The swimmer lost consciousness after finishing the race. He was in lane 7 and in the final heat of the night. He finished the race and sank a few seconds later… He was not noticed by his fellow swimmers in the same heat. The timekeeper got the time and sat back. There were more than 100 people less than 100 feet away from him. NO one noticed!! There was a time trial of 4x50m IM at the end of the meet, and it was the breastroker who noticed him 3.5 minutes later! There were 4 lifeguards present on the pool, an ICU doctor, and two paramedics, and a fully equipped ambulance with an AED machine… Read more »
WTF? Condolences to his family and friends. Absolute shame on the meet officials and organizers. You’re a disgrace and should be held to account for this young athlete’s death. Damn.
3.5 minutes? If I’m the coach or parent, hopefully I’m watching the race- then Im lurking up once he goes under and I’m jumping in myself before half a minute has elapsed. They werent watching?
Were they watching time go by?? How are they sure it was 3.5 mins???
What a tragedy. Obviously lifeguards are there for that specific purpose of safety, but to me it’s hardest to understand how the timers didn’t notice.
This is absolutely tragic. I just attended the International Lifesaving Federation’s 2025 World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Egypt, in November, hosted by the Egyptian Diving and Lifesaving Federation. We all need to work together to raise the water safety standards in developing countries. The conference in Egypt is a start. The key messages need to get to the lifesavers and lifeguards on the front line.
This was entirely preventable if the lifeguards hadn’t been totally checked out.
This is a huge disappointment. This kid did not need to die.
Embarrassing. Changes need to be made.
Lifeguards?
What lifeguards?