A 24-year-old runner collapsed 3 km before the finish…

A 24-year-old runner collapsed 3 km before the finish line. Could this happen to any of us? Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed while running her first marathon, the New York City Marathon, on 1 November 2026. Bystanders found no pulse and started CPR, and medical staff used a defibrillator. She died in hospital. Her father told The New York Times that doctors attributed her death to rhabdomyolysis. As a doctor and a distance runner myself, here is what every runner should know. What is rhabdomyolysis? Muscle cells break down and release myoglobin, potassium, phosphate and creatine kinase (CK) into the blood. When the breakdown is extensive, these can damage vital organs, especially the kidneys. Can running cause it? Yes, but it is relatively uncommon in recreational runners. It can occur in marathons, ultramarathons and other endurance events. Normal muscle soreness and a temporary rise in CK are not the same thing as clinical rhabdomyolysis. A study of the hot and humid 2022 New York City Marathon found