Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Pune Runner’s Death Highlights Cardiac Arrest Risks After Angioplasty
Sanjay Kadam was a 65-year-old runner who collapsed during a half marathon.
His heart had a blocked blood vessel, which is like a blocked pipe supplying the heart.
Doctors opened the blockage with angioplasty, but his heart had already been badly stressed.
A heart attack is a blood-flow problem, while cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly cannot pump properly.
The two problems can happen together.
Even after blood flow is restored, the heart muscle may be weak or have an unstable heartbeat.
That can cause the heart to stop again.
Quick CPR, defibrillation and hospital treatment can improve a person’s chances.
Runners should take chest pain, unusual breathlessness, dizziness, fainting and sudden tiredness seriously.
Sixty-five-year-old Pune runner Sanjay Kadam collapsed after completing about 17 kilometres of the Satara Hill Half Marathon.
Cardiologist Dr Riyaz Mujawar began CPR, and Kadam was taken to hospital for emergency treatment.
Doctors reportedly found a major coronary artery blockage and performed angioplasty to restore blood flow.
Although Kadam was initially stabilised, he suffered another cardiac arrest hours later and died.
Experts say injured heart muscle and continuing electrical instability can cause another arrest even after angioplasty.
- Who
- Sanjay Kadam, a 65-year-old retired Centre for Development of Advanced Computing scientist and experienced runner.
- What
- He collapsed during a half marathon, was revived and underwent angioplasty, then suffered another cardiac arrest and died.
- When
- During the Satara Hill Half Marathon and several hours after his angioplasty.
- Where
- At the Satara Hill Half Marathon and subsequently at a hospital.
- Why
- Doctors found a major coronary blockage; experts said heart-muscle injury and electrical instability can persist after blood flow is restored.
- Age
- 65
- Race
- Satara Hill Half Marathon
- Distance completed
- About 17 kilometres of the 21.1-kilometre course
- Initial emergency response
- CPR was started by cardiologist Dr Riyaz Mujawar
- Hospital treatment
- Angiography reportedly found a major coronary blockage, followed by angioplasty
- Later outcome
- A second major cardiac arrest occurred hours later, resulting in death
- Key medical risk
- The first 24 hours after angioplasty require especially close observation