Twenty-four-year-old Rachel Apa had trained for months for her first marathon in New York City on November 1. However, her race ended tragically just two miles from the finish. Around 1:30 p.m. on that Sunday, she collapsed, and nearby bystanders rushed to help her, but efforts revealed that she had no pulse. Her father, Steve Apa, later confirmed that she died a few hours later at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Moments before the tragedy, Rachel had been texting her father, who was following her progress through a tracking app from Pennsylvania. Steve stated that Rachel was in “perfect health” leading up to the marathon. Her mother, Michelle, also recorded a video of Rachel waving and smiling at Mile 14, supporting her father’s remarks. Things took a turn after Mile 18, when Rachel texted her father that she was in pain, saying “Ow” and “Ow ow” in her messages. At Mile 23, Steve encouraged her with a message, but he did not receive any further text from her after that, as reported by The New York Times.
While Rachel’s mother moved toward Central Park to await her daughter at the finish line, she noticed on the tracking app that Rachel had unexpectedly stopped at Mile 24. Michelle hurried to that spot, where she found that an ambulance was transporting Rachel to the hospital, as two doctors had confirmed that she had no pulse. Michelle followed in a separate ambulance and received the tragic news at 9:40 p.m. that Rachel had died.
Steve Apa later informed The New York Times that the cause of Rachel’s death was rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition where damaged muscle breaks down quickly. The Cleveland Clinic describes this condition as harmful because it releases muscle contents into the bloodstream, which can lead to dangerous chemical imbalances and kidney injuries.
Steve expressed that losing his daughter was an “unfathomable” experience. The event’s organizer, New York Road Runners, stated they were “deeply saddened” by the news, offering their sympathies to Rachel’s family and the running community.
Rachel had been running to fundraise for Parkinson’s research, a cause close to her heart because her grandfather had suffered from the disease. She described him as her “role model” in her fundraiser. In her messaging, Rachel noted how her grandfather had taught her to be active and embrace challenges, but she also saw how Parkinson’s had taken away his freedom to move. Although he had passed away in 2022, Rachel continued to be motivated by his teachings. Her fundraising goal was initially set at $4,000, but it has since exceeded that amount, reaching $12,666.
The NYC Marathon has seen several runner fatalities over the years. What are your thoughts on the safety measures at such large events?
Sources:
Source: Bored Panda, by Dinara Luz