World · North America · 2 hrs ago
24-year-old Rachel Apa dies after collapsing near end of New York City Marathon
Rachel Apa, 24, died after collapsing near the end of the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
She was running in Central Park, about two miles from the finish, in her first marathon.
Apa, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, ran with a Parkinson’s fundraising team in honor of her grandfather, who had the disease.
Race medical staff used a defibrillator, and she was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors tried to save her.
Her father said she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles break down and that can be triggered by heavy exercise.
She was the first marathon participant to die from a medical incident since 2024, according to race organizer New York Road Runners.
The organizer expressed sympathy for her family, friends and the running community.
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner, died after collapsing near the end of the New York City Marathon.
She collapsed in Central Park, about two miles from the finish, and was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Her father said she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles break down.
Apa was running her first marathon as part of a Parkinson’s fundraising team, in honor of her late grandfather.
Race organizer New York Road Runners said the last participant death from a medical incident at the marathon was in 2024.
- Who
- Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania.
- What
- She collapsed during the New York City Marathon and later died at a hospital. Her father said the cause was rhabdomyolysis.
- When
- Sunday, during the final stages of the marathon; she died at 9.40pm.
- Where
- Central Park, New York City, and later Mount Sinai Medical Center.
- Why
- She was running to raise money for Parkinson’s disease and honor her late grandfather, who had the disease.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Apa’s mother filmed her smiling during the race.
Apa texted her father: “Ow”.
She texted him: “Ow, ow”.
She texted “final stretch” to her father.
Apa collapsed in Central Park, according to the Daily Mail’s account citing The New York Times.
Apa died at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
- Age
- 24
- Collapse location
- Central Park, New York City
- Distance from finish
- About two miles
- Hospital
- Mount Sinai Medical Center
- Reported cause of death
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Time of death
- 9.40pm
3 sources
What people are saying
It’s unfathomable
We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race
My grandfather was my role model growing up,