Watch CBS News

Olympic Officials Investigating If Kayaker Capsized After Hitting Submerged Sofa, Report Says

RIO DE JANEIRO (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Olympic officials are trying to determine if a kayaker capsized in Rio's polluted waters after reportedly hitting a sofa.

Sky Sports' Paul Kelso tweeted Friday that he was "hearing an Olympic kayaker may have capsized after hitting a submerged sofa."

Apparently, furniture floating in Guanabara Bay -- the venue for Olympic sailing and open-water events -- is not a new thing, as Getty Images snapped this shot of a sofa on the edge of the bay earlier this month.

Rio couch
A couch rests among pollution along the edge of Guanabara Bay, the venue for the Olympic sailing, on August 2, 2016 in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Not to be outdone, this couch was photographed floating in the bay in 2014.

Rio couch
A discarded couch sits along the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay, outside Antnio Carlos Jobim International Airport, on Jan. 21, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The Times' Martyn Ziegler reported that officials are looking into the alleged incident.

"Breaking: Rio2016 to investigate reports of #kayaksofa. Spokesman Mario Andrada says first he's heard of it," Ziegler tweeted.

And of course, someone took it upon themselves to create a "Kayak Sofa" Twitter account.

A 16-month long independent analysis by The Associated Press has shown the rowing venue -- and other water venues used by 1,400 athletes in the Olympics -- is teeming with dangerous viruses from human sewage that could cause athletes to become ill.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.