Woman, 24, dies after collapsing during final stages of New York marathon | New York Marathon

A 24-year-old woman died after collapsing during the final stages of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, her father said.

Rachel Apa’s father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times that his daughter was in Central Park, two miles from the end of the race, when she collapsed. It was Rachel’s first marathon and she was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her late grandfather, who suffered from the disease.

Steve Apa told the Times that his daughter played field hockey in college and was “perfectly healthy, in perfect shape.”

Rachel, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was cheered on Sunday by Steve and his mother, Michelle Apa.

Michelle Apa filmed her daughter smiling at mile 14, but at mile 18 later, Rachel texted her father, writing, “Ouch.” A kilometer later, she texted him: “Ouch, ouch.” She seemed to have pulled herself together when she texted Steve “home stretch” at mile 23. However, she collapsed shortly afterwards and a member of the public administered CPR to her. Race medical staff then used a defibrillator on Rachel, before she was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Doctors tried to save her but she died at 9:40 p.m. Her father told the Times that Rachel died of rhabdomyolysis, a rare disease that can be caused by strenuous exercise in which muscles break down.

“It’s unfathomable,” Steve Apa said.

Rachel had recently started an MBA at Charleston Southern University.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race,” the New York Road Runners, race organizers, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the family, friends and the entire running community.”

The New York Road Runners said the last time a race participant died from a medical incident was in 2024.