Jackson James Rice, an exceptional young athlete, tragically lost his life at the age of 18. He was mere weeks away from making history as the first Caucasian to compete for Tonga in the upcoming Paris Olympics. On June 15, Jackson passed away while free diving from a boat in Tonga due to a shallow water blackout—a condition where one loses consciousness after holding their breath for an extended period in shallow water. This condition is often caused by hyperventilating before a dive, which reduces CO2 levels and delays the urge to breathe.
Despite immediate resuscitation efforts when his body was discovered beneath the boat, they were unsuccessful. The heartbreaking news was shared by his sister on Facebook. Born in the United States, Jackson relocated to Tonga with his British parents, who managed a hotel in Ha’apai. He embraced the Tongan culture and proudly identified as Tongan. Jackson had qualified for the Olympics in kite foil racing, an intense and competitive form of kite surfing that utilizes hyper foils.
Jackson James Rice’s promising future was cut short, leaving a profound impact on those who knew him. May he rest in peace.
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