On Sunday, November 1, the sad news of the death of Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner who passed away while participating in the New York Marathon was released. Hailing from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, the young woman had previously played hockey and was running her first race at this distance with a special purpose: to raise funds for research and support for people with Parkinson’s.
According to her father, Steve Apa, Rachel was an active person full of projects. Recently she had begun an MBA program at Charleston Southern University, in South Carolina, while working remotely as a product manager for a company of electrical components.
The young woman suffered a collapse as she passed the 39th kilometer, near Central Park South at 85th Street and only a few kilometers from the finish line. The episode occurred around 1:30 p.m.
In statements to The New York Times and NBC News, her father explained that the cause of death was a rhabdomyolysis, a condition that causes the destruction of muscle fibers and the release of substances into the bloodstream that can affect, among other organs, the kidneys.
This condition can appear after extreme physical exertion. However, according to Steve, the doctors who treated his daughter described the condition as “extremely rare” in that context. The man also expressed his bewilderment at what happened, as he believed Rachel was healthy and in excellent physical condition at 24 years old.
The young woman was transported by ambulance to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where her death was confirmed later that same night, after 9:40 p.m. Before the arrival of the emergency crews, several people who were at the scene had performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to The New York Times.
One of the first people to notice that something was wrong was Michaela Nicholas, a hospital social worker who happened to be among the spectators. Upon seeing her collapse, she approached to assist and noted that she had no pulse.
Shortly after, three other individuals who identified themselves as doctors joined the resuscitation efforts and took turns performing CPR until the marathon’s medical team arrived. The professionals continued the maneuvers and used a defibrillator before transporting her to the hospital.
Rachel Apa’s contact with her parents during the marathon
During the race, Steve Apa followed his daughter’s progress from his home in Pennsylvania via the competition’s official app. As Rachel advanced, he sent her messages of encouragement and stayed in touch with her.
In one of those exchanges, the young woman told him that she had “never felt so good.” His father, aware that it was her first marathon, asked her to be careful and not push herself too hard.
Meanwhile, her mother, Michelle Apa, also followed part of the route at different points along the circuit. Near kilometer 22 she managed to see her and recorded a video in which Rachel appears greeting the camera with a smile.
However, upon reaching the 39th kilometer, Steve noticed that his daughter’s location had stopped advancing. Worried, he alerted his wife and the friends who were waiting for her near the finish line.
When Michelle arrived at the scene, she saw the emergency teams transporting her daughter. The health professionals continued to work to save her life, but they were unable to reverse the condition.
She ran to honor her grandfather, who died of Parkinson’s
Rachel had decided to participate in her first marathon with a charitable goal: to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation, in memory of her paternal grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022.
On her LinkedIn profile, the young woman had remembered her grandfather as one of her great role models. According to what she wrote, he had taught her the importance of staying active and always being ready to tackle new challenges.
Rachel’s participation in the event carried a personal meaning that went beyond the athletic challenge. Her intention was to turn that effort into an opportunity to contribute to a cause close to her family history.
Her death sent shockwaves through her loved ones and the running community. The young woman had come to New York to fulfill a personal challenge and pay tribute to a key person in her life.
