NYC Marathon runner dies after medical incident during race, officials say
A woman died while running in the TCS New York City Marathon Sunday after a medical incident, race organizers said.
Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed at Mile 24 near 85th Street in Central Park, officials say. A bystander administered CPR before medical staff took over and rushed her to a local hospital, where she died, according to the New York Road Runners.
"We are deeply saddened by Rachel's passing following running in Sunday's race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community," a statement read.
Apa, a Pennsylvania native and former Bucknell University field hockey player, wrote on LinkedIn that she was running to raise money for The Parkinson's Foundation in honor of her late grandfather. It was her first marathon.
Michaela Nicholas said she was one of the bystanders who rushed to Apa's side when she collapsed.
"She collapsed on the floor about 15 yards away from us, so my fiancé immediately screamed for help," she said.
Nicholas said runners, spectators and medical staff came to her rescue.
"A few people who came running (cut) they began doing CPR and they were rotating doing CPR," she said.
Nicholas said she held Apa's hand in hopes of bringing her comfort.
While the city's medical examiner has not yet determined a cause of death, Apa's father told The New York Times that the 24-year-old suffered the rare muscle condition rhabdomyolysis.
"Rhabdomyolysis actually means the actual breakdown of the muscle cells and the release of those cells' chemicals into the bloodstream," said Dr. Farrukh Koraishy, a nephrologist at Stony Brook Medicine.
Bucknell released a statement saying Apa graduated in 2024 with a bachelor's degree in Markets, Innovation and Design. She was also a four-year member of the field hockey team, a spokesperson said.
"The Bucknell community mourns her loss and extends its heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved her," part of the statement read.
The last time tragedy struck the NYC Marathon was back in 2008, when a total of three runners died after participating in the race. In those cases, the participants suffered heart attacks during or after completing the marathon.
Experts saying the marathon's toll on the body can be unpredictable.
"It's a slow process ultimately leading to your body being ready for this," Koraishy said.
