24-Year-Old Runner Collapses and Dies Near NYC Marathon Finish Line
Rachel Epp, a 24-year-old first-time runner, died after collapsing near the finish line of the New York City Marathon due to rhabdomyolysis.
A 24-year-old participant in the New York City Marathon, Rachel Epp, collapsed and died just three kilometers before the finish line in Central Park. It was her first marathon.
Epp, a former field hockey player, ran to raise funds for Parkinson's champions in memory of her grandfather who died of the disease in 2022. Her father stated she was in peak physical condition and trained for months, communicating via text until contact was lost around the 29th kilometer.
After collapsing, she received first aid from a bystander before being rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. According to her father, the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, a rare medical condition involving muscle breakdown.
