24-year-old woman dies after collapsing in final stages of New York City Marathon

Father says Rachel Apa died from rhabdomyolysisRunner was former college athlete in ‘perfect shape’A 24-year-old woman died after collapsing during the final stages of Sunday’s New York City Marathon, her father has said.Rachel Apa’s father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times his daughter was in Central Park, two miles from the end of the race, when she collapsed. It was Rachel’s first marathon and she was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her late grandfather, who suffered from the disease. Continue reading…

A 24-year-old woman died after collapsing during the final stages of Sunday’s New York City Marathon, her father has said A 24-year-old woman died after collapsing during the final stages of Sunday’s New York City Marathon, her father has said. Rachel Apa’s father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times his daughter was in Central Park, two miles from the end of the race, when she collapsed. It was Rachel’s first marathon and she was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her late grandfather, who suffered from the disease.

Steve Apa told the Times that his daughter had played field hockey at college and was in “perfect health, perfect shape”. Rachel, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was being cheered on by Steve and her mother, Michelle Apa, on Sunday. Michelle Apa filmed her daughter smiling at mile 14, but at mile 18 later Rachel texted her father, writing “Ow”. A mile later she texted him: “Ow, ow”. She appeared to have rallied when