Who was Leroy Saunders, who died after collapsing at HYROX Bangkok 2026?
Saunders collapsed and lost consciousness while competing at the BYD HYROX Bangkok 2026 fitness competition
South African fitness coach and CrossFit professional Leroy Saunders, aged 41, has died after collapsing during the BYD HYROX Bangkok 2026 fitness competition in Thailand on August 13th. Saunders lost consciousness mid-competition and, despite receiving prompt medical attention including CPR from event staff and medical personnel before being taken to a hospital, he tragically passed away.
South African fitness coach and CrossFit professional Leroy Saunders, aged 41, has died after collapsing during the BYD HYROX Bangkok 2026 fitness competition in Thailand on August 13th. Saunders lost consciousness mid-competition and, despite receiving prompt medical attention including CPR from event staff and medical personnel before being taken to a hospital, he tragically passed away.
South African fitness coach and CrossFit professional Leroy Saunders, aged 41, has died after collapsing during the BYD HYROX Bangkok 2026 fitness competition in Thailand on August 13th. Saunders lost consciousness mid-competition and, despite receiving prompt medical attention including CPR from event staff and medical personnel before being taken to a hospital, he tragically passed away.
South African fitness coach and CrossFit professional Leroy Saunders died at the age of 41 after collapsing at the BYD HYROX Bangkok 2026 fitness competition in Thailand.
Saunders, a well-known personality in the fitness community, lost consciousness while competing at the event on August 13. His death was confirmed through a statement shared on his official Instagram account. His family and team said that they were still trying to fully understand the circumstances surrounding his death and did not disclose an official medical cause. They also urged the public to avoid speculation until more information becomes available.
According to The Nation, Saunders collapsed and lost consciousness during the competition. Medical personnel and event staff responded immediately, providing CPR and emergency resuscitation before he was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
Who was Leroy Saunders?
Leroy Saunders was well known in Thailand’s fitness industry. He owned IAOT CrossFit in Bangkok and founded Fight by Design, a programme developed for Muay Thai, MMA and boxing athletes.
What is HYROX?
HYROX is a fitness race that combines both running & functional workout stations, where participants run 1km, followed by 1 functional workout station, repeated eight times.
According to the official website of HYROX, each race is hosted indoors in expansive exhibition halls, where spectators can support the participants from the very beginning to the very end. The format of the race remains consistent across the globe.