Alexander Lubina celebrated great success as a long-distance runner in the early 2000s, after which he switched to orienteering. After a running camp in Mallorca, the 42-year-old would like to stay on the island for a few more days. However, he had a tragic accident there.
German athletics is in mourning. Alexander Lubina is dead, the eleven-time German champion and former long-distance runner died in a tragic accident at the age of 42. Born in Bottrop, he died in a cave on Mallorca. First, a German tourist was reported who, despite a warning about stormy winds, had descended a staircase on a cliff in Cala Serena on the Mediterranean island. There he was caught by a wave and thrown against a rock. the “West German General Newspaper” now reports that it was the former top athlete Lubina.
With reference to the Spanish media, it is said that the 42-year-old was initially carried out to sea by the waves in the afternoon. However, due to the difficult weather conditions, attempts to rescue the casualty from there failed. Only in the evening hours did the emergency services manage to rescue the dead. The German-language “Mallorca-Zeitung” quotes a local resident, according to which the danger of the cave has long been known: “The cave is very wide by the sea, but narrows very quickly. When the wind blows, there is a suction effect that develops an uncanny force. “
Apparently, on his descent into the cave, Lubina ignored a sign warning against entering in bad weather. A man had a fatal accident there in 2013, and the body has not been found to this day. In the current case, according to the police, the divers were only able to reach the dead person and bring them ashore in the evening due to the storm.
From athletics to national orienteering coach
Born in 1979, Lubina had his most successful time as an athlete at the beginning of the millennium. In 2002 he won the German championship title over 10,000 meters and qualified for the European Championships in the Munich Olympic Stadium in the same year. Dieter Baumann won the silver medal there, Lubina took a good 13th place. Also his best time of 28:29.15 minutes he set this year. Overall, Lubina was German champion eleven times, although he ended his competitive sports career at the age of 28 due to persistent injury problems and several stress fractures.
Lubina and Fitschen after a competition in the summer of 2002.
According to “WAZ”, the former top athlete wanted to stay in Mallorca for a few more days after a running training camp. The camp offered Lubina accordingly together with Jan Fitschen an, the 10,000 European champion of 2006. Both started together for TV Wattenscheid when they were active, they are close friends. Just a few days before the accident, they also recorded an episode for Fitschen’s podcast “Lauf ist einfach” together.
The TV Wattenscheid pressed in one Message his condolences and “wishes the bereaved above all strength in this difficult time”. The DJK Adler 07 Bottrop speaks to the “WAZ” about the tragedy of the event, wants to cherish the memory of him: “He will not be forgotten.” Lubina started as an orienteer for Bottrop, and the 42-year-old was also the national orienteering coach. He leaves behind his partner and a son.