Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old former Division I athlete participating in her very first marathon, tragically passed away after collapsing near the final stages of the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
According to her family, Ms. Apa was running through Central Park near 85th Street, approaching Mile 24, when she collapsed at approximately 1:30 p.m. Spectators and medical personnel rushed to her aid, administering CPR and using a defibrillator before paramedics transported her to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead later that evening at approximately 9:40 p.m.
Her father, Steve Apa, stated that the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, a rare and severe muscle condition triggered by extreme exertion where muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances harmful to the body. Described by her family as being in peak physical condition, Ms. Apa had trained for months for the event and was running to raise funds to fight Parkinson's disease in honor of her late grandfather.
The New York Road Runners, organizers of the marathon, released a statement expressing profound sadness over the tragedy and offering condolences to her family, friends, and the wider running community.
