Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner, died Sunday after collapsing around mile 24 of the New York City Marathon.
A former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, Apa had spent months preparing for her first run in the famous race on Nov. 1, alongside more than 60,000 other participants.
Her mother, Michelle Apa, watched her pass mile 14 in Long Island City, Queens. She recorded a video of her daughter smiling, looking strong and giving high-fives before continuing on. Michelle then made her way toward Central Park, expecting to meet her at mile 25.
Apa’s father, Steve, was following her progress from the family’s home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, and sending messages of encouragement along the route. At mile 18, Rachel texted him, “Ow.” A mile later, she wrote, “Ow ow.”
At mile 23, Steve sent her a message saying she was in the final stretch. According to reporting in The New York Times, she did not reply.
Spectator Michaela Nicholas saw Apa near mile 24 in Central Park, wearing a green tank top and matching shorts. Nicholas cheered her on, with about two miles left. Seconds later, around 1:30 p.m., Apa collapsed.
Nicholas, a hospital social worker, rushed to help and found that Apa had no pulse. After Nicholas’ fiancée called for a doctor, two people who said they were physicians began CPR, taking turns. Nicholas stayed beside Apa and held her hand.
Race organizers, New York Road Runners, told The New York Times that medical staff arrived shortly afterward and used a defibrillator. Paramedics then reached the scene by ambulance.
When Michelle realized her daughter’s location had stopped changing on the tracking app, she went to find her. By the time she arrived, the ambulance carrying Rachel was leaving.
Doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center tried to save Rachel for more than six hours. She was pronounced dead at about 9:40 p.m., the report said.
Steve Apa told the newspaper that his daughter died of rhabdomyolysis, a condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue. It can follow an injury, severe dehydration or overheating, and is often associated with intense exercise without adequate rest.
“It’s unfathomable,” he said, describing his daughter as healthy and in excellent shape at 24.
Rhabdomyolysis, sometimes called rhabdo, occurs when muscle tissue breaks down from overexertion. Substances released by damaged muscle fibers can enter the bloodstream and affect the kidneys, potentially causing serious harm.
Symptoms may include muscle weakness, stiffness, swelling or pain, as well as urine that appears brown, red or tea-colored. Nausea, dehydration and loss of consciousness can also occur. Symptoms range from mild to severe and may develop within one to three days of muscle injury.
The condition can be life-threatening. Cleveland Clinic advises people to stop and rest if they feel unusually sore or tired during exercise, avoid pushing beyond safe limits, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade when exercising in hot weather.
New York Road Runners told The New York Times that the previous marathon death occurred during a medical emergency in 2024. In a statement, the organization said it was deeply saddened and offered its condolences to Apa’s family, friends and the running community.
Apa worked as a product manager for an electrical components company and was pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University, according to the report.
She was also running to raise money for Parkinson’s research in memory of her grandfather, who died in 2022. On a Parkinson’s Champions fundraising page, Apa wrote that he had been a role model who encouraged her to stay active, challenge herself and enjoy sports.
After he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she watched the disease gradually limit his ability to move, she wrote. The lessons he had taught her continued to motivate her, and she said she was proud to support fundraising for research, improved care and a cure.
Apa had raised more than $13,000 for the cause.
