US woman running marathon dies two miles from finish line

A 24-year-old woman collapsed just a few miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday and later died at a hospital, according to New York police.

Rachel Apa, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was taking part in her first marathon when she collapsed. A bystander performed CPR, while race staff used a defibrillator before paramedics transported her to hospital. She could not be revived.

The city medical examiner’s office said on Tuesday that it was still investigating her death. However, Apa’s father, Steve Apa, said that she died from rhabdomyolysis, also known as rhabdo.

The condition involves the rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle, which can release harmful substances into the bloodstream. It can lead to kidney damage, serious heart problems and, in severe cases, organ failure.

Details of Apa’s medical history, training routine and family health history have not been made public.

A former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, Apa graduated in 2024. She had taken part in the marathon to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease research in memory of her grandfather, who died from the condition in 2022.

On her fundraising page, she said her grandfather had encouraged her to stay active, push her limits and take on challenges, helping shape her interest in sports and physical activity.