A female runner who collapsed two miles from the finish line at the New York City Marathon died late Sunday at a hospital.
Family members said Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old former college athlete, collapsed in Central Park as she entered the race’s final stretch.
Steve Apa, Rachel’s father, told The New York Times that his wife, Michelle, was a spectator at the race and had seen her daughter at Mile 14.
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Mr. Apa, who was watching the marathon from the family’s home in Pennsylvania, said Rachel sent two separate text messages saying “Ow” during the final eight miles.
But while Michelle Apa was moving positions to catch the next glimpse of her daughter, an app that followed racers showed that Rachel’s location had stopped in Central Park. Steve Apa said his wife saw Rachel being treated by medical professionals when she got to the scene.
Emergency personnel rushed Rachel to a hospital, where she died around 9:40 p.m. Sunday. Doctors told the family that Rachel died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscle tissue rapidly deteriorates and releases harmful substances into the bloodstream.
“It’s unfathomable,” Mr. Apa told The Times. “Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old.”
Rhabdomyolysis, often called “rhabdo,” can be caused by extreme physical exertion.
The condition sends potassium, enzymes and the protein myoglobin into the body, which can lead to fatal organ malfunction.
For example, myoglobin in the blood can cause kidney failure, while potassium in the bloodstream can severely disrupt the heart’s rhythm.
Her family said Sunday’s marathon was Rachel’s first. She was running to honor her late grandfather, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
The New York Road Runners said the last time someone died from a medical episode during the race was in 2024.
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