Russian water polo player dies suddenly at training camp

Published Sep. 7, 2015 7:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

MOSCOW (AP) A player for the Russian national water polo team has died of an apparent heart attack while in the pool.

Vladislav Timakov, 22, was in Bulgaria for pre-season training with his club Sintez Kazan when he ''died suddenly'' Sunday, the Russian Water Polo Federation says.

Timakov was swimming during a training session when he began to drown, his teammate Ivan Nagaev told Russian agency Ves Sport. Players hauled Timakov out of the water and a doctor provided first aid, but Timakov died on the way to hospital, Nagaev said, adding that he believed Timakov had suffered a heart attack.

Timakov, who played as a center, represented Russia at the world championships in Kazan in July, scoring one goal in three games as Russia missed out on the medals.