24-Year-Old Fatal Collapse: NYC Marathon Runner Dies of Rhabdomyolysis

POLICY WIRE — New York, U.S. — A 24-year-old woman’s dream run ended in tragedy on Sunday when she collapsed during the New York City Marathon. The incident occurred two miles before the finish line, cutting her first-time marathon experience tragically short.

Rachel Apa, a Pennsylvanian native who was described as being in perfect health, had earlier texted her father, Steve Apa, the words “Ow ow” while running at mile 19. She subsequently collapsed at mile 24 of the race.

Spectators located near the course rushed to assist her around 1:30 p.m. Two of the bystanders were doctors who immediately began administering CPR. Emergency services then transported Apa via ambulance to Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Despite medical efforts, the runner was pronounced dead at approximately 9:40 p.m. Her father, who spoke with The New York Times, identified the cause of death as rhabdomyolysis, a rare exertion-related muscle condition.

Also known as rhabdo, the condition occurs when muscle tissue breaks down rapidly, potentially poisoning the body. Steve Apa expressed his shock at the loss, calling it unfathomable.

Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old, he said, struggling to process the sudden death of his daughter who was in excellent physical condition.

Apa was from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, and had graduated magna cum laude from Bucknell University in May 2024. She had previously played Division I field hockey at the university until 2023.

Currently working as a product manager for electrical component firm TE Connectivity, she had also recently started an M.B.A program at Charleston Southern University. She had been training for the marathon for months.

The runner was participating in the event to support the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her grandfather. She had raised $7,656.68 for the cause, significantly exceeding her initial goal of $4,000.

In a post shared on LinkedIn earlier this year, Apa explained her personal connection to the campaign. She described her grandfather as a role model who encouraged her to push her limits and embrace challenges.

She noted that after her grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she witnessed how the illness gradually removed his mobility. This experience inspired her dedicated fundraising efforts.

A representative for the New York Road Runners, the organization responsible for the event, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. The spokesperson stated their sincere sympathies were with the runner’s family, friends, and the broader running community.

Requests for comment to Steve Apa, the organizing nonprofit, the NYPD, and TE Connectivity went unanswered at the time of reporting. This death marks the first fatality associated with the New York City Marathon since 2024.

In the previous year, a different incident occurred when an unidentified 24-year-old man fell from a Brooklyn apartment window while attempting to view the course, according to The New York Daily News.

Medical research indicates that while the risk of cardiac arrest in long-distance running has dropped by half since the early 2000s, rhabdomyolysis remains a distinct and rarer threat.

According to a 2025 study from Emory School of Medicine, approximately one in 500,000 marathon runners dies from cardiac events. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Clinic reports that around 26,000 individuals in the U.S. develop rhabdo annually, with runners facing elevated risks.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)