Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old athlete, died after collapsing at mile 24 of the New York City Marathon on November 1st. Her father, Steve Apa, stated that the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle condition.
Apa was participating in her first New York City Marathon and had been training for months. Her parents tracked her progress via the New York Road Runners app. Her father reported receiving texts from her at mile 18 and 19 stating "Ow" and "Ow ow," respectively. She did not respond to a text sent at mile 23.
Spectators witnessed Apa collapse near mile 24 in Central Park. A hospital social worker at the scene determined she had no pulse. Marathon medical staff, followed by paramedics, arrived and attempted to revive her. Apa was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead around 9:40 p.m. after over six hours of medical intervention.
Rhabdomyolysis, also known as rhabdo, occurs when overexerted muscles break down, leading to muscle death. This process can release toxic muscle fibers into the bloodstream and kidneys, potentially causing kidney damage. Symptoms can include muscle pain, stiffness, swelling, weakness, and changes in urine color. The condition is considered life-threatening, with symptoms typically appearing one to three days after muscle injury.
Apa was running to raise funds for Parkinson's disease research in honor of her late grandfather, who passed away in 2022. She had raised over $13,000 for the Parkinson's Foundation.
The New York Road Runners organization released a statement expressing deep sadness and offering condolences to Apa's family and friends. The organization noted that the last medical incident during a marathon occurred in 2024.