Collapsed at the finish: tragedy at Madrid half marathon claims runner's life
A 38-year-old runner died of cardiac arrest just meters before the finish line during the Madrid half marathon, despite emergency aid.
Screenshot from video @Emergencias Madrid / x.com
A 38-year-old participant tragically died during the Madrid half marathon. The man collapsed unconscious just a few hundred meters from the finish line — near the Cibeles fountain, reports El Pais.
The incident occurred in front of a nurse who was also taking part in the race.
She immediately began CPR, but the man's condition was critical.
Emergency medical teams transported him to La Paz Hospital, where he died a few hours later.
According to Le Parisien, citing a representative from Madrid’s Ministry of Health, the cause of death was cardiac arrest.
During the same race, another 21-year-old runner also suffered cardiac arrest on Paseo de Recoletos but was saved thanks to a doctor who happened to be nearby.
This year’s half marathon took place under intense heat, with temperatures exceeding 20°C and a clear sky, which may have affected runners’ health.
According to elDiario.es, 27,000 people took part in the Madrid half marathon, and 50 of them required medical assistance. This is the fourth death recorded in the event’s 24-year history.
Earlier, during the E3 Saxo Classic race, Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel was spat on by a spectator. Despite his victory, the incident led to a police investigation.