Young NYC Marathon runner collapses and dies two miles from finish line
A 24-year-old runner, Rachel Apa, died after collapsing near the finish line of the New York City Marathon. Her father stated she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition caused by muscle breakdown during extreme exertion.
Why it matters
Highlights the rare but serious medical risks associated with extreme endurance sports even among trained athletes.
Image source, Anadolu via Getty Images By Grace Eliza Goodwin Published 3 hours ago A 24-year-old runner in the New York City Marathon collapsed and died just two miles from the finish line, despite being in "perfect health, perfect shape", her father has said.
Rachel Apa, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was running on Sunday with the Parkinson's Foundation Champions to raise money and honor her grandfather who had the disease, she said in a fundraising page.
It was Apa's first marathon, though she was an athlete and had trained for months, father Steve Apa told the New York Times.
She died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition where muscles break down and poison the bloodstream, which can be brought on by overexertion, her father said.
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