Runner dies after marathon collapse

Rachel Apa died on Sunday afternoon after suffering a medical emergency near the end of the New York City Marathon. The 24-year-old runner collapsed around mile marker 24 in Central Park. Emergency medical workers transported her to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. She died hours later.

Her father, Steve Apa, confirmed the timeline to NBC News. He described the situation as "unfathomable." The New York Police Department stated that paramedics took Apa to the hospital after she experienced the episode. Doctors later diagnosed her with rhabdomyolysis. They described the condition as "extremely rare." The Cleveland Clinic defines rhabdomyolysis as a serious condition where muscle breakdown releases toxic components into the bloodstream and kidneys due to overexertion.

Steve Apa tracked his daughter’s progress via a mobile app from their home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. His wife, Michelle, and two of Rachel’s friends followed the route on foot through the five boroughs. The family exchanged text messages throughout the race. Rachel was running her first marathon. She had previously played Division I field hockey at Bucknell University.

Messages from the morning showed high energy. At 11:30 a.m., near the 9-mile mark, Rachel texted, "I feel amazing." She attributed her condition to pre-race carb-loading. Steve responded with caution, reminding her it was a "learning run." By mile 18, her texts shifted. She wrote "Ugh" and then "Ow, ow" at mile 20. Steve urged her to "go easy." At mile 23, he texted, "All finish, not speed."

Around 1:30 p.m., near mile 24, Steve sent another message. He noticed her location on the tracking app had stopped moving. Michelle and the friends, who were waiting at mile 25, also saw the stationary pin. Michelle called Steve and began searching for Rachel. An EMS worker on scene told Michelle that an ambulance had taken her daughter to the hospital. The worker drove Michelle to Mount Sinai in a second ambulance.

New York Road Runners, the event organizer, stated that a bystander performed CPR before staff arrived. Medical personnel then used a defibrillator. Steve began driving to New York City after learning of the collapse. The family is now back in Pennsylvania. Rachel’s two brothers are processing the loss. She had recently moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to pursue an MBA while working a remote job.

Rachel ran the race for the Parkinson’s Foundation. She dedicated her effort to her grandfather, who died of the disease. In a LinkedIn post, she wrote that he taught her to "push my limits, and embrace challenges." Steve noted that Rachel was always active in school and sports. He described her as someone who was always "on the go."