A 24-year-old runner with an athletic background died after collapsing during the 2026 New York City marathon, two miles before the finish line. Rachel Apa was one of more than 61,000 people who had signed up for this year’s edition of the iconic race through the city’s streets on Sunday.
The 24-year-old is said to have collapsed near the finish line and was given first aid along the race course. She was then rushed to the hospital by ambulance, where she later died. Her cause of death was subsequently confirmed as a rare condition called rhabdomyolysis, which can affect even healthy people.
Family Noticed Messages Stopped
Rachel’s dad, Steve Apa, said his daughter had texted him regularly during her first ever marathon, but near mile 24 her messages stopped. Then he and Rachel’s friends monitoring the marathon tracking app noticed that her location had stopped in one spot.
While Rachel’s first messages throughout most of the race were full of confidence and positivity, at mile 20 she texted ‘Ow, ow.’ Steve responded with ‘All finish, not speed,’ but his daughter never replied, messages shared with NBC News reveal.
Mum Michelle, who was watching the race further along the track, arrived at the scene, where an emergency worker told her that Rachel had been taken to the hospital, where she followed. An onlooker is said to have given the woman CPR before marathon paramedics arrived, and used a defibrillator on Rachel to save her.
Cause of Death Confirmed
Doctors confirmed later that Rachel, a university field hockey player without previous health issues, died of rhabdomyolysis. Rachel, a graduate of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, had been training for the marathon and exercised regularly and was raising money with the marathon challenge in memory of her granddad, who died of Parkinson’s, according to Steve.
She wrote on her fundraising page for Parkinson’s Champions: ‘My grandfather was my role model growing up. He taught me to stay active, push my limits, and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement. Later in life, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and I watched as the disease slowly took away the freedom to move that he once loved so much.’
Race organiser New York Road Runners said: ‘We are deeply saddened by Rachel’s passing following running in Sunday’s race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community.’
What Is Rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo for short, is a rare injury affecting the muscles, causing them to break down suddenly. The life-threatening condition can be triggered by an injury or too much exercise without rest.
When the muscles break down or die, toxic material will enter the bloodstream and eventually affect the kidneys, leading to damage. Symptoms and signs of the condition include muscle swelling and weakness, tender and sore muscles and dark pee resembling tea.
While one of the leading causes of rhabdo is a crushing injury that breaks muscle fibres, high-intensity exercise is also a common driver. People starting intense exercise like an endurance sport too quickly and without proper rest in between sessions can be at risk.
