Runner dies during New York City Marathon

On Sunday, November 1, 24-year-old Rachel Apa collapsed in Central Park during the New York City Marathon, just 3.5 kilometers (approximately 2 miles) before the finish line. Apa, a resident of Pennsylvania who was reportedly in excellent health, was participating in her first-ever marathon to honor her late grandfather, who passed away from Parkinson's disease in 2022.

During the race, Apa communicated via text message with her father, Steve Apa, who was tracking her progress from home. She began reporting pain around the 18th and 19th miles of the course. Despite her father’s attempts to encourage her with messages like "Final stretch" when she reached the 23rd mile, she stopped responding. After collapsing in the park, she was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that evening.

According to statements provided by her father to news outlets, the cause of death is attributed to rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition characterized by the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue often resulting from intense physical exertion.