Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old former college field hockey player, died after collapsing just two miles from the finish line of the 2026 New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1. She was running through Central Park when she suffered a medical emergency around 1:30 p.m. Despite receiving CPR and being rushed to Mount Sinai Medical Center, doctors could not save her life. She was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that causes rapid muscle breakdown.
Rachel Apa Receives Emergency Help After Collapsing During New York City Marathon
Rachel was running near Mile 24 in Manhattan’s Central Park when she suddenly collapsed. She was just around two miles away from completing her first New York City Marathon.
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A hospital social worker named Michaela Nicholas was among the first people to reach her. She tried to check Rachel’s pulse but could not find one. Two doctors who were watching the race also stepped in and took turns performing CPR, Nicholas told The New York Times.Medical staff from the New York Road Runners (NYRR), the organization behind the marathon, soon arrived with a defibrillator. Paramedics followed and took Rachel to Mount Sinai Medical Center by ambulance.Doctors continued trying to save her for around six hours. However, she died at 9:40 p.m., according to her father.Steve Apa told The New York Times that his daughter died from rhabdomyolysis. It is a serious condition in which muscle tissue breaks down quickly and releases harmful substances into the bloodstream. Intense physical activity can sometimes trigger it.The loss left her family struggling to understand what had happened. Steve described his daughter’s condition before the race, saying, “It’s unfathomable. Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old.”The New York Road Runners also shared a statement following her death. The organization said, “We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner’s family, friends, and the entire running community.”
Rachel Apa’s Final Messages to Her Father and Her Run for Parkinson’s Foundation
Rachel’s parents were following her progress throughout the marathon. Her mother, Michelle, was in New York and recorded a video of her daughter smiling at Mile 14 in Queens. Her father, meanwhile, was back home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, sending her encouraging messages as she moved through the course.However, Rachel’s messages soon began to worry him. At Mile 18, she replied with one word: “Ow.” A mile later, she sent another message saying, “Ow ow.” Despite the pain, she continued running and later texted her father, “final stretch,” at Mile 23. That was the last message he received from her.Michelle was heading towards Central Park to watch her daughter finish when she noticed something unusual on the marathon tracking app. Rachel’s location had stopped moving near Mile 24. She rushed towards the location and reached the scene as an ambulance was taking her daughter to the hospital. Michelle then followed in another ambulance.Nicholas, who had rushed to help Rachel, later said she held the young runner’s hand after she collapsed so that she would know someone was beside her.Rachel was a graduate of Bucknell University, where she played field hockey. She worked as a product manager for an electrical component company and had also started studying for an MBA at Charleston Southern University.Running the marathon had a special meaning for her. She wanted to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson’s disease in 2022.In her online fundraising message, Rachel explained how much her grandfather had influenced her life.“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.”She also shared how painful it was to watch his illness affect his ability to move. She wrote that she wanted to help raise money and awareness for research, better care, and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.Following Rachel’s death, NYRR confirmed that she was the first runner to die during the New York City Marathon since 2024.The New York Road Runners said Rachel was the first participant to die following a medical incident during the marathon since 2024. However, CBS New York reported on November 3 that the city’s medical examiner’s office was investigating her death and had not yet determined an official cause. The information about rhabdomyolysis came from her father.