NYC Marathon Shock: 24-Year-Old Rachel Apa Dies After Collapsing Just Two Miles From Finish Line

Thousands of spectators at Sunday’s New York City Marathon were stunned when 24-year-old first-time participant Rachel Apa collapsed in Central Park just shy of Mile 24 and later died at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to race officials. Witnesses say the former Bucknell University field-hockey standout was running strong in a light-green singlet when she suddenly fell near East 85th Street around 1:30 p.m.; bystanders, including two physicians, immediately began CPR until the marathon’s medical team arrived with a defibrillator. She was transported by ambulance but was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. Rachel’s father, Steve Apa, who was tracking her progress remotely from Lewisberry, Pa., told reporters that doctors identified rhabdomyolysis—a rare condition in which extreme exertion causes muscle fibers to break down and flood the bloodstream with toxins—as the cause of death. The Cleveland Clinic estimates roughly 26,000 U.S. cases each year, often linked to intense athletic activity or heat stress. The tragedy unfolded after a promising start. At Mile 14 in Queens, Rachel beamed and high-fived spectators while her mother, Michelle Apa, captured the moment on video. Yet text messages sent to Steve grew ominous: “Ow” at Mile 18 and “Ow ow” at Mile 19, followed by silence. When the marathon app showed her stalled at Mile 24, Michelle hurried toward the course and arrived just as paramedics departed for the hospital. Rachel, a product-manager and newly enrolled M.B.A. student at Charleston Southern University, was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions charity team in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022. Her online fundraiser had already surpassed its initial goal by race morning. New York Road Runners, the event organizer, issued a statement expressing “deep sadness” and noted that the last fatality during the marathon occurred in 2024. This year’s race welcomed a record 61,146 finishers amid unseasonably warm fall temperatures, factors experts say can raise the risk of heat-related muscle injury. Sports-medicine physicians recommend that endurance athletes build mileage gradually, stay hydrated, monitor electrolytes, and heed early warning signs such as severe cramps, dark urine, or persistent muscle pain. Early medical attention is critical; rhabdomyolysis can cause kidney failure if untreated. As condolences flood social media, fellow runners are pledging to wear green ribbons at upcoming races to honor Rachel Apa’s passion for pushing limits and her commitment to fighting Parkinson’s disease—a legacy her family hopes will inspire safer training practices and continued charitable giving.