Jackson James Rice, also known as JJ Rice, has tragically died at 18 years old.
Rice was due to compete at the Paris Olympics for the new kite-foiling event.
Kite foil racing is described as āsailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing and paragliding into one extreme sport,ā as perĀ ANOC.
Rice was set to make history by becoming the first caucasian athlete to represent Tonga at the Games after finishing eighth at a Sail Sydney event.
Sadly, a freak accident has led to the 18-year-oldās passing.
A second says: āSo very tragic for a young man with what would have been a spectacular life before him.ā
āSo sad, his whole life ahead of him,ā another pens.
Somebody else shares: āThoughts are with your family at this sad time, amen and God bless.ā
While a heartbroken friend comments: āI canāt begin to put into words what Iām feeling right now. I still cannot believe it, when I woke up to this news I thought you were playing around.
āYouāre the most amazing friend anyone could ask for and anyone who has spent time with you would agree.ā
Rice was born in the U.S. to British-born parents. He grew up in Haāapai ā a central part of Tonga ā where his parents operate a tourist lodge.
The sportsman, who considered himself Tongan, had trained and competed in Europe before returning to Haāapai.
Riceās father, Darren, confirmed the tragic news of the 18-year-oldās passing.
He told theĀ Matangi TongaĀ newspaper that Rice had been free-diving from a boat on Saturday when he died from a suspected shallow water blackout.
A shallow water blackout, or apnea blackout, is a āloss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold dive in shallow water,ā as per theĀ National Library of Medicine.
Typically, itās caused by hyperventilating before a dive, as this lowers the carbon dioxide (CO2) level and delays the diverās urge to breathe.
Riceās body was found on the seafloor underneath the boat by other divers. Attempts to resuscitate the 18-year-old failed.
Riceās sister, Lily, paid tribute to her talented brother on Facebook by penning: āI was blessed with the most amazing brother in the whole world and it pains me to say that heās passed awayā¦
āHe was an amazing kite foiler and he would have made it to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medalā¦ he made so many amazing friends all over the world.ā
Riceās father also remembered how the teenager risked his life to save many when he was 15.
One occasion involved a ferryboat carrying 18 capsizing. Another involved the teen swimming out to rescue two girls swept off a sandbar.
Riceās funeral will be confirmed at a later date.
