NEW YORK: A 24-year-old athlete, Rachel Apa, has died after collapsing during the New York City Marathon, just two miles short of completing her first-ever marathon.
According to international media reports, Rachel’s parents were tracking her progress through the marathon’s mobile app. At Mile 23, her father sent her an encouraging message, but she did not respond. When her progress stopped at Mile 24, her concerned parents rushed to the location, where they saw an ambulance leaving the scene.
According to reports, a social worker and two other individuals rushed to Rachel’s aid after she collapsed. They took turns attempting to revive her before she was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Doctors spent six hours trying to save her life, but she could not be revived.
Rachel’s father said she died from rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which muscle tissue breaks down rapidly, potentially releasing harmful substances into the bloodstream. The condition can occur following extreme physical exertion.
Expressing his grief, her father said it was difficult to comprehend how his 24-year-old daughter, who had been in excellent health and physical condition, could suddenly lose her life.
Rachel was a former field hockey player at Bucknell University. She had taken on her first marathon in memory of her grandfather, who passed away after battling Parkinson’s disease.
