Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old participant in the New York City Marathon, died after collapsing approximately two miles from the finish line. Apa was reportedly suffering from rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscles break down rapidly, leading to potential kidney failure.
During the race on Sunday, Apa sent a series of text messages to her father, Steve Apa, who was tracking her progress from his home in Pennsylvania. Around the 18-mile mark, she texted "Ow." Another mile later, she sent "Ow, Ow," indicating she was experiencing pain.
As Apa neared the 23-mile point, her father texted, "Final stretch," in an attempt to encourage her. However, Apa did not reply. She collapsed at the 24-mile marker in Central Park shortly thereafter.
Apa, who was reportedly in perfect health before the marathon, was pronounced dead later on Sunday. Her father confirmed to The New York Times that she died from rhabdomyolysis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this condition releases muscle proteins, such as myoglobin, which can overwhelm the kidneys and lead to organ failure.