List of marathon fatalities

Last updated

Below is a sortable list of individuals who died as a result of running a marathon.

Contents

Causes of death during the marathon

The most frequent causes are:

  1. sudden cardiac death, triggered by a congenital or acquired heart disorder;
  2. exercise-associated hyponatremia or other electrolyte imbalance;
  3. exertional heat stroke or severe hyperthermia.

The age distribution ranges widely, from the teens through the sixties.

In 2016, a systematic medical review found that the risk of sudden cardiac death during or immediately after a marathon was between 0.6 and 1.9 deaths per 100,000 participants, varying across the specific studies and the methods used, and not controlling for age or gender. This translates to a few published marathon deaths worldwide in a typical year, although the authors lamented the lack of a central registry for the information. [1]

The second major risk arises from imbalanced fluid or electrolyte levels, particularly hyponatremia (sodium deficiency, overhydration, or water intoxication). As a marathon medical director described the counter-intuitive and under-publicized risk in 2005: "There are no reported cases of dehydration causing death in the history of world running, but there are plenty of cases of people dying of hyponatremia." [2]

Heat stroke is an emergency condition in which thermoregulation fails and the body temperature rises above 104 °F (40 °C). It becomes a greater risk in warm and humid weather. [3]

List

OriginName [ref.]AgeMarathon dateEventLocationCause / Notes
Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Francisco Lázaro [4] 2415 July 1912 Olympic Marathon Stockholm, Sweden Electrolyte imbalance
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   SUI Jakob Jutz [5] 35-3626 August 1951 Swiss Athletics Federation Marathon Championships Cham, Switzerland Heart failure
Flag of France.svg  FRA Jacques Bussereau [6] 4828 October 1984 New York City Marathon New York City, US Heart attack
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Duncan Kerr [7] 2822 September 1985 Glasgow Marathon Glasgow, UK Pneumonia
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Martin A. Wurst, Jr. [8] 322 November 1986 Marine Corps Marathon Washington, D.C., US Coronary artery disease
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Edwin Brown [9] 4714 December 1986 Dallas Marathon Dallas, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Thomas Becker [10] 408 October 1989 Twin Cities Marathon Minneapolis, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA William McKinney [11] 594 March 1990 Los Angeles Marathon Los Angeles, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Lisa B. Christensen [12] 194 November 1990 Marine Corps Marathon Washington, D.C., USCoronary artery abnormality
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Julius Becza [13] 5824 October 1993 Marine Corps Marathon Washington, D.C., USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Samuel Grafton [14] 4216 October 1994 Detroit Marathon Detroit, USHeart attack
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   SWI Pierre Marguet [15] 276 November 1994 New York City Marathon New York City, USHeart attack; also for an unnamed second fatality
Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Humphrey Siesage [16] 6115 April 1996 Boston Marathon Boston, USHeart attack
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Anna Loyley [17] [18] 268 March 1998 Bath Half Marathon London, UK Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kelly Barrett [19] 4311 October 1998 Chicago Marathon Chicago, US Hyponatremia
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Don Scott [20] 4826 September 1999 Robin Hood Marathon Nottingham, UKHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Danny Towns [19] 4522 October 2000 Chicago Marathon Chicago, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Luke Roach [19] 227 October 2001 Chicago Marathon Chicago, US Heat stroke
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Laura M. Clancy [21] 2920 October 2001 Baltimore Marathon Baltimore, US Brain aneurysm
Flag of Ecuador.svg  ECU Cynthia Lucero [22] 2815 April 2002 Boston Marathon Boston, USHyponatremia
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Hilary Bellamy [22] 3527 October 2002 Marine Corps Marathon Washington, D.C., USHyponatremia
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Craig Johanson [20] 2814 September 2003 Robin Hood Marathon Nottingham, UK Cardiac arrhythmia
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Rachael Townsend [23] 2912 October 2003 Chicago Marathon Chicago, US Mitral valve prolapse
Flag of the United States.svg  USA James Leone [11] 6019 March 2006 Los Angeles Marathon Los Angeles, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Raul Reyna [11] 5319 March 2006 Los Angeles Marathon Los Angeles, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA William Goggins [24] 4330 July 2006 San Francisco Marathon San Francisco, US Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Flag of the United States.svg  USA George Spears, Sr. [25] 491 October 2006 Twin Cities Marathon Minneapolis, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Earl Seyford [26] 5629 October 2006 Marine Corps Marathon Washington, D.C., USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Marc Witkes [27] 4010 December 2006Tucson Marathon Tucson, USCongenital heart abnormalities
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR David Rogers [28] 2222 April 2007 London Marathon London, UKHyponatremia
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Chad Schieber [29] 357 October 2007 Chicago Marathon Chicago, USMitral valve prolapse
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ryan Shay [30] 283 November 2007 USA Marathon Championships New York City, USCardiac arrhythmia
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Adam Nickel [31] 272 March 2008 Little Rock Marathon Little Rock, USCoronary artery abnormality;
electrolyte imbalance
Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Carlos Jose Gomes [32] 582 November 2008 New York City Marathon New York City, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Joseph Marotta [32] 662 November 2008 New York City Marathon New York City, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Fred Costa [32] 412 November 2008 New York City Marathon New York City, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Erin Lahr [33] 2914 December 2008 Dallas Marathon Dallas, US Cardiac arrhythmia
Flag of Ireland.svg  IRE Colin Dunne [34] 271 March 2009 Barcelona Marathon Barcelona, SpainHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Peter Curtin [35] 2310 October 2009 Baltimore Marathon Baltimore, USUndetermined, possible heat stroke;
body temperature 107 °F (42 °C)
Flag of the United States.svg  USA William Caviness359 October 2011 Chicago Marathon Chicago, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ulysses Thomas [36] 585 November 2011 Savannah Marathon Savannah, US
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Claire Squires [37] 3022 April 2012 London Marathon London, UKHeart attack, DMAA supplement
Flag of Spain.svg  ESP Xavier Jiménez [38] 4517 March 2013 Barcelona Marathon Barcelona, SpainHeart attack
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Sam Harper Brighouse [39] 2314 April 2013 Brighton Marathon Brighton, UK Ischemic colitis
Flag of the United States.svg  USA R. Jacob Zeman [40] 359 November 2013 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Savannah, US"Unsuspected heart condition"
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Robert Berry [41] 4213 April 2014 London Marathon London, UKHeat stroke
Flag of the Philippines.svg  PHI Manases Alfon Jr. [42] 387 February 2016Condura Skyway Marathon Philippines
Flag of the Philippines.svg  PHI Arnold Lubang [43] 407 February 2016Condura Skyway Marathon Philippines Cardiac arrest
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Mike Freeman [44] 5528 February 2016Vodafone Malta Marathon Sliema, Malta"Natural causes"
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR David Seath [45] 3124 April 2016 London Marathon London, UKHeart attack
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Rob Bremer [46] 5026 November 2017 Curacao KLM Marathon Curacao Cardiac arrest
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Matt Campbell [47] 2922 April 2018 London Marathon London, UKCardiac arrest
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  GBR Juan Camilo Arboleda Alzate [48] 3816 September 2018Medellín Marathon Medellín, ColombiaHeart attack
Flag of Chile.svg  CHI Claudio Agurto Spencer [49] 517 April 2019Santiago Marathon Santiago, Chile Aortic dissection
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Taylor Ceepo [50] 2219 May 2019Cleveland MarathonCleveland, USCardiac
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Steve Trickett [51] 3526 May 2019Ottawa MarathonOttawa, Ontario, CanadaHeart Attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Harry Vroulis [52] 7419 January 2020 Houston Marathon Houston, USHeart attack
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gregory McSween419 November 2021Marine Corps Marathon
Flag of France.svg  FRA Bruno Meunier [53] 415 June 2022Marathon de la Liberté Caen, FranceHeart attack
Flag of Japan.svg  JPN unnamed [54] 693 March 2024 Tokyo Marathon Sumida, Tokyo
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Joey Fecci [55] 2627 April 2024Nashville Marathon Nashville, US"Natural causes"
Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Marco Gomes [56] 4228 April 2024 Maratona da Europa Aveiro, PT
CountryEventDeathsDate
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Weliveriya bombing 155 April 2008
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Boston Marathon bombing 315 April 2013
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Gansu ultramarathon disaster 2122 May 2021

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Cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest, is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. As a result, blood cannot properly circulate around the body and there is diminished blood flow to the brain and other organs. When the brain does not receive enough blood, this can cause a person to lose consciousness. Coma and persistent vegetative state may result from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is also identified by a lack of central pulses and abnormal or absent breathing.

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References

  1. ↑ Waite, Oliver; Smith, Andy; Madge, Luke; Spring, Hannah; Noret, Nathalie (January 2016). "Sudden cardiac death in marathons: a systematic review" (PDF). The Physician and Sportsmedicine. 44 (1): 79–84. doi:10.1080/00913847.2016.1135036. PMID   26765272. S2CID   36458482.
  2. ↑ "Marathoners Warned About Too Much Water", The New York Times, 20 October 2005.
  3. ↑ Armstrong, Lawrence E.; Casa, Douglas J.; Millard-Stafford, Mindy; Moran, Daniel S.; Pyne, Scott W.; Roberts, William O.; Roberts, W. O. (March 2007). "American College of Sports Medicine position stand: Exertional heat illness during training and competition". Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 39 (3): 556–572. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31802fa199 . PMID   17473783.
  4. ↑ "Francisco Lázaro, a emborcação no treino", Fórum Olímpico de Portugal.
  5. ↑ "In memoriam Jakob Jutz" (in German).
  6. ↑ "The splendor of the New York City Marathon was...", UPI, 29 October 1984.
  7. ↑ "Can Running Kill?", Scotland's Runner, August 1986.
  8. ↑ "Marine Who Died During Marathon Here Had Undiagnosed Heart Ailment", The Washington Post, 4 November 1986.
  9. ↑ "Dallas White Rock Marathon: The Seventeenth Annual Running" [ permanent dead link ], December 1986.
  10. ↑ "Runner dies after finishing", St. Cloud Times, 9 October 1989.
  11. 1 2 3 "Exuberance of L.A. Marathon Tempered by Runners' Deaths", Los Angeles Times, 20 March 2006.
  12. ↑ "Marathon's No Random Killer, But No Running From Death", Washington Post, 12 November 1990.
  13. ↑ "Runner's Heart Attack Was Waiting to Happen", The Washington Post, 30 October 1993.
  14. ↑ "Runner, 42, collapses and dies", Detroit Free Press, 17 October 1994.
  15. ↑ "New York City Marathon: Two Runners Are Dead From Cardiac Arrest", The New York Times, 7 November 1994. "A second runner, a man approximately 45 years old whose name was not released by St. Luke's Hospital or marathon officials, also died."
  16. ↑ "Heartbreak Hill Claims Another Victim", Associated Press, 16 April 1996.
  17. ↑ "First aid charity sued over death of runner". www.telegraph.co.uk. 8 October 2000. Retrieved 2021-11-24.
  18. ↑ Pedoe, Dan Tunstall (2000-04-01). "Sudden cardiac death in sport—spectre or preventable risk?". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 34 (2): 137–140. doi:10.1136/bjsm.34.2.137. ISSN   0306-3674. PMC   1724190 . PMID   10786871.
  19. 1 2 3 "How marathons can kill you", Chicago Sun-Times, 6 October 2002.
  20. 1 2 "Marathon death man named", BBC, 15 September 2003.
  21. ↑ "Marathon Runner Collapses, Dies" Archived 2013-06-21 at the Wayback Machine , The Baltimore Sun, 11 October 2009.
  22. 1 2 "Too Much of a Good Thing", The Washington Times, 23 October 2003.
  23. ↑ "Coach copes with wife's death", The Columbus Dispatch, 27 January 2004.
  24. ↑ "The Fit Man's Heart Threat", Men's Health, 23 August 2007.
  25. ↑ "Man who died in Twin Cities Marathon was experienced runner", Associated Press, 2 October 2006.
  26. ↑ "Runner collapses, dies during Marine Corps Marathon", Associated Press, 30 October 2006.
  27. ↑ "Man who died in marathon had congenital heart disease", Tucson Citizen, 23 January 2007.
  28. ↑ "Marathon victim died from drinking too MUCH water". 13 April 2012.
  29. ↑ "Autopsy: Man who died in Chicago Marathon had heart condition", Associated Press, 8 October 2007.
  30. ↑ "Ryan Shay dies in U.S. Olympic marathon trials", USA Today, 3 November 2007.
  31. ↑ "Doctors: Ark. marathon runner died of rare mix of heart condition, electrolyte abnormalities", Associated Press, 7 April 2008.
  32. 1 2 3 "Secrets of the New York City Marathon". amNewYork. 4 November 2016.
  33. ↑ "Heart condition caused White Rock Marathon runner's death", The Dallas Morning News, 2 March 2009.
  34. ↑ "Teacher dies from heart attack during marathon", The Independent, 2 March 2009.
  35. ↑ "Runner Was MIT Student; N.C. Native Died During The Baltimore Marathon Saturday" [ permanent dead link ], The Baltimore Sun, 13 October 2009.
  36. ↑ "Marathon runner was 'picture of health,' wife says", Savannah Morning News, 9 November 2011.
  37. ↑ "Claire Squires inquest: DMAA was factor in marathon runner's death", BBC, 30 January 2013.
  38. ↑ "Muere un atleta en el maratón de Barcelona", El Periódico de Aragón, 17 March 2013.
  39. ↑ "Brighton marathon runner died from bowel failure", The Guardian, 28 August 2013.
  40. ↑ "Mr. Robert Jacob (Jake) Zeman obituary", Tributes.com, 11 November 2013.
  41. ↑ "London marathon runner died yards from finish after his body overheated", London Evening Standard, 28 August 2014.
  42. ↑ " Archived 2017-11-12 at the Wayback Machine , ABS-CBN Sports, 8 February 2016.
  43. ↑ ", Rappler, 8 February 2016.
  44. ↑ "Marathon runner died of natural causes – police", Times of Malta, 1 March 2016.
  45. ↑ "London Marathon runner David Seath dies after collapsing near finish line", The Guardian, 25 April 2016.
  46. ↑ "Runner dies during KLM marathon", Antilliaans Dagblad, 27 November 2017.
  47. ↑ "London Marathon: Masterchef semi-finalist Matt Campbell dies", BBC News, 22 April 2017.
  48. ↑ "Juan Camilo Arboleda, profesor universitario murió de un paro en Media Maratón de Medellín". Semena. September 16, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Murió maratonista en la Marathon De Santiago". El Mostrador. 2019-03-07. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  50. ↑ Livingston, Doug. "Woman, 22, dies in Cleveland Marathon; soccer player was graduate of St. V-M and Walsh University". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  51. ↑ Duffy, Andrew. "Her husband died in 2019 Ottawa marathon. This year, she'll be on the start line". Ottawa Citizen.
  52. ↑ McCord, Cory (21 January 2020). "Runner dies after suffering heart attack during 2020 Chevron Houston Marathon". khou.com.
  53. ↑ "Le Marathon de la Liberté à Caen endeuillé par la mort d'un participant". franceinfo. June 5, 2022.
  54. ↑ "東京マラソンで転倒した69歳の男性亡くなる 主催財団が発表 2007年開催から初の死者：東京新聞 TOKYO Web". 東京新聞 TOKYO Web (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  55. ↑ "Nashville chef, 26, identified as runner who died in St. Jude marathon". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  56. ↑ "Homem que morreu na maratona de Aveiro era técnico de futsal: "Chocante"". noticiasaominuto (in European Portuguese). 29 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-01.

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