Here is all you need to know about Jackson James Rice and his cause of death, as the kitefoiler passes away at 18
A diving accident has unfortunately taken the life of an 18-year-old kitefoiler who once hoped to compete for Tonga in the Olympics. However, the teenager faced an unfortunate occurrence.
Jackson James Rice’s father, Darren told The Matangi Tonga newspaper that his son passed away on Saturday due to what appeared to be a shallow water blackout.
Who is Jackson James (JJ) Rice as kitefoiler dies in diving accident, cause of death, bio, age, sister and parents
Kitefoiling is expected to be in a competition for the first time when the Olympics officially kick off on July 26. In the meantime, in a Facebook tribute to Rice, the International Kiteboarding Association said that “his passion soared as high as the kites he rode.”
Who is Jackson James Rice?
Jackson James Rice was an 18-year-old Kitefoiler who was born in the United States to British parents.
Rice stated on social media on May 25 that he had made “a few mistakes” that had delayed his Olympic aspirations till 2028. The teenager had allegedly placed eighth at Sail Sydney in December and had high hopes of making it to the Paris Games.
As the first athlete of Caucasian origin in Olympic history, Jackson was supposed to compete for Tonga, according to CBS.
Jackson James Rice’s parents
Jackson James Rice was born to British parents. He is also survived by a sister named Lily Rice. She paid tribute to her deceased brother on Facebook.
Lily said that her brother “was so talented and was amazing at everything he tried.” She was very hopeful that he would have made it to the Olympics. She said James would have “made it to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medal.”
James’ father also revealed how his late son helped others. He revealed to the Matangi Tonga that his 15-year-old son had tried to save lives at sea when a ferry boat capsized and that too two times; once in 2021 and again in 2022.
Jackson James Rice’s cause of death
In Faleloa, Ha’apai on Saturday, June 15, JJ was free diving from a boat when there appeared to be a probable blackout of shallow water with him dying in the diving accident.
A shallow water blackout is defined by the National Library of Medicine as the loss of consciousness resulting from cerebral hypoxia “towards the end of a breath-hold dive in shallow water.”