Rachel Apa death cause: What happened to the 24-year-old who died just before finishing New York City Marathon?

In a tragic incident, a 24-year-old died during the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Rachel Apa collapsed just two miles from the finish line and later died. Rachel, a former field hockey player at Bucknell University, was running her first marathon in honour of her late grandfather, who died of Parkinson's disease in 2022. Rachel's death has now cast a shadow over this year's New York City Marathon, which attracted 61,146 participants. According to race organisers, New York Road Runners, fatalities during the event are rare. She was the first participant to die during the marathon since 2024.

What happened to Rachel Apa during the New York City Marathon?

Rachel appeared cheerful and energetic during the initial stages of the race, with her mother, Michelle Apa, documenting her progress. She even recorded a video of Rachel at the 14-mile mark, showing her determination to complete the marathon.

However, messages Rachel sent to her father, Steve Apa, later revealed that she was experiencing pain. At mile 18, she texted him, "Ow." A mile later, she sent another message saying, "Ow, Ow." Her final communication came at mile 23, when she wrote, "Final stretch."


As Rachel approached the final miles of the race in Central Park, she suddenly collapsed. Hospital social worker Michaela Nicholas, who was watching the marathon, rushed to help after witnessing her fall.

Two doctors at the scene took turns performing CPR until marathon medical personnel arrived with a defibrillator. Despite their efforts, Rachel was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she remained in critical condition for several hours before succumbing to her condition.

Her father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times that her death as difficult to comprehend, saying she had been in "perfect health, perfect shape" and was just 24 years old.

He said doctors identified rhabdomyolysis as the cause of her death. The condition affects approximately 26,000 people annually in the United States.

Who was Rachel Apa?

Rachel was a former field hockey player at Bucknell University and had recently graduated from the institution. She was working as a product manager while pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University.

The New York City Marathon was her first, and she had spent months preparing for the endurance event. She was also running to support the Parkinson's Foundation Champions program, honouring her grandfather's memory and his influence on her passion for sports and physical activity.

Her participation was particularly meaningful because her grandfather had died of Parkinson's disease in 2022. Her sudden death has also raised concerns about the risks associated with extreme physical exertion, even among young and seemingly healthy athletes.