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Rachel Apa dies after collapsing during New York City Marathon
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, died after collapsing during the New York City Marathon on November 1. Apa, a former college field hockey player at Bucknell University, was participating in her first marathon to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her grandfather.
The collapse occurred in Central Park near the 24-mile mark, approximately two to three kilometers from the finish line. Bystanders and race medical staff performed CPR and used a defibrillator before she was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she passed away later that evening.
According to her father, Steve Apa, the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, a rare and serious condition where muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances into the bloodstream that can cause organ failure. Her father noted that she had been in excellent health and had been communicating via text throughout the race, initially reporting that she felt amazing before later messaging that she was in pain.
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Bucknell University · Mount Sinai Hospital · Mount Sinai Medical Center · New York City Marathon · New York Road Runners · Parkinson’s Foundation · Rachel Apa