24-Year-Old Runner Dies from Rhabdomyolysis During NYC Marathon

Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed around mile marker 24 while competing in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 1 and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. She died several hours later, according to the New York Police Department.

Apa, a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, was running her first marathon to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her grandfather. She had texted her father shortly before the race saying she felt "amazing" and ready for the challenge.

New York Road Runners, the race organizer, said medical personnel used a defibrillator after a bystander performed CPR. Her father told NBC News that an EMS worker later informed his wife, Michelle, that Rachel had been taken to the hospital.

Doctors determined that Apa died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare injury that can result from intense physical activity. The condition causes muscle tissue to break down, releasing substances that can damage the kidneys and lead to life-threatening failure. Approximately 26,000 cases are reported annually in the United States, with endurance athletes at higher risk.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that symptoms include muscle swelling, weakness, soreness, and dark-colored urine. Treatment typically involves intravenous fluids and electrolytes, and in severe cases, dialysis.

"I feel amazing," Apa wrote to her father before the race, NBC News reported.

The incident highlights the importance of recognizing early signs of rhabdomyolysis and seeking prompt medical attention during or after extreme exertion.