Brooklyn Half Marathon runner dies after crossing finish line
A 30-year-old man taking part in the Brooklyn Half Marathon has collapsed and died after crossing the finish line as a scorching heatwave hit the East Coast of the US, NYPD said Saturday.
The man collapsed just before 9 a.m. and was taken to Coney Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police. The death is being investigated as a possible cardiac arrest, officials said.
“He was immediately attended to by on-site medical staff and then transported to Coney Island Hospital. NYRR has medical staff placed from start to finish throughout the race course, who are ready to respond immediately to the medical needs of all runners, spectators, volunteers and staff.”
The FDNY said 15 other people were sent to the hospital with injuries.
Temperatures Saturday reached 90 degrees, with a heat index pushing 100. Both a heat advisory and an air quality health alert were in effect, the latter instituted because of high levels of air pollution.
Over 22,000 runners were expected to run from Prospect Park to the Coney Island boardwalk in the Saturday half-marathon, which returned to full capacity for the first time in three years.
According to the New York Fire Department, 16 people were taken to the hospital during the event Saturday morning. Five were in serious condition, eight had non-life threatening injuries and four had minor injuries.
