The collapse

On Sunday, 1 November 2026, a 24-year-old woman collapsed during her first New York City Marathon, a race she ran to raise money for Parkinson's research and to honour her grandfather, who died of the disease in 2022. According to the New York Times, she fell near the mile-24 marker at 1:33 p.m. EST. Reports differ on how far from the finish that was, ranging from about two miles to five kilometres, with The Independent citing two miles, Notícias ao Minuto about three kilometres and German outlets just under four kilometres.

Her father, following her progress from home on a tracking app, had received upbeat messages from her earlier in the race. Messages of pain came after roughly 29 kilometres, and he received no reply after about 37 kilometres, when his tracker showed her position had stopped moving.

Bystanders ran to help and began CPR before emergency crews arrived with a defibrillator, according to The Independent, which says two of those helping were doctors. She was taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai Medical Center, arriving at 1:50 p.m. Doctors spent more than six hours trying to save her before she was declared dead at 9:40 p.m. EST.

Collapse and death on Sunday, 1 November 2026
  1. Collapse near the mile-24 marker, according to the New York Times
  2. Ambulance arrives at Mount Sinai Medical Center
  3. Declared dead after prolonged resuscitation attempts

Cause of death

Her father told the New York Times that she died of rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances that can damage the kidneys. On Tuesday, 3 November, the city's medical examiner's office said it is investigating the cause of death, and that investigation remains open.

The Independent cites the Cleveland Clinic for about 26,000 cases a year in the United States, and Vanderbilt University research for around 1,500 deaths annually. The condition is typically triggered by overexertion, physical trauma, certain medications or an underlying health condition. Spiegel Online lists muscle pain, weakness, tenderness and swelling as typical symptoms, along with nausea and dark urine.

Previous cases have mostly involved college athletes. The Independent reports that more than a dozen University of Iowa players were hospitalised in 2011 after a strenuous squat workout, and that three Oregon football players were hospitalised in 2017 after demanding conditioning workouts.

Context and reaction

HotNews, citing a study from the Emory University School of Medicine, puts marathon deaths at about one per 500,000 runners, mostly caused by cardiac events. The same report says a 2022 study found dozens of runners in the New York race were treated for rhabdomyolysis, but that no data exist on rhabdomyolysis deaths during marathons.

New York Road Runners told CBS News that it was deeply saddened by the death and extended condolences to the family, friends and running community. The organiser also said a passer-by who was not part of the race gave CPR before medical crews arrived, according to Notícias ao Minuto. The medical examiner's investigation into the cause of death is ongoing.