NYC Marathon Runner, 24, D*es Just Two Miles From Finish Line as Father Reveals Her Heartbreaking Final Messages

A 24-year-old woman who spent months preparing for her first New York City Marathon tragically collapsed just two miles from the finish line. Now, her devastated father has revealed the final messages she sent during the race, including a worrying sign that something was wrong.

Rachel Apa, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was participating in Sunday’s 26.2-mile marathon on November 1 when she collapsed in Central Park at approximately 1.30pm.

The former college field hockey player had been running to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research in memory of her grandfather, who died in 2022.

Despite receiving emergency medical attention, Rachel was pronounced d*ad later that evening.

Her sudden passing has devastated her family and the wider running community.

A Mother’s Marathon Tracking App Revealed Something Was Wrong

Rachel had been approaching the final stages of the race when she suddenly collapsed near Mile 24.

A hospital social worker, Michaela Nicholas, rushed to help but reportedly could not detect a pulse.

Two doctors who were watching the marathon immediately began performing CPR before race medical personnel arrived with a defibrillator.

Rachel was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors continued efforts to save her.

According to her father, Steve Apa, she was pronounced d*ad at 9.40pm.

Meanwhile, Rachel’s mother, Michelle, had been following her daughter’s progress through New York.

Earlier in the race, Michelle had recorded Rachel smiling as she passed Mile 14 in Queens.

She was making her way towards Central Park to celebrate her daughter’s finish when she noticed that Rachel’s location on the marathon tracking app had stopped moving at Mile 24.

Realising something was wrong, she rushed to the scene and arrived as emergency responders were transporting Rachel to hospital.

Father’s Heartbreaking Account of Her Final Messages

Speaking to The New York Times, Steve Apa revealed that his daughter had sent him several messages as she pushed through the exhausting race.

He had been supporting Rachel remotely from Pennsylvania while her mother cheered her on in New York.

At Mile 18, Rachel sent a short message indicating that she was experiencing pain.

A mile later, she sent another message suggesting that the discomfort had intensified.

Despite apparently struggling, she continued running.

At Mile 23, she sent her father one final message indicating that she was approaching the last stretch.

It was the last communication Steve received from his daughter.

He described the loss as almost impossible to comprehend, explaining that Rachel had appeared healthy and physically fit before the marathon.

According to Steve, doctors attributed her d*ath to rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition involving the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue.

The condition can release substances into the bloodstream that may cause dangerous complications, including kidney damage.

The precise medical circumstances surrounding Rachel’s collapse have not been independently detailed in the family’s account.

She Was Running in Memory of Her Grandfather

Rachel’s participation in the marathon carried deeply personal significance.

Her grandfather, whom she regarded as an important role model, had died from Parkinson’s disease in 2022.

She had joined the Parkinson’s Foundation Champions programme to raise money for research, treatment and greater awareness of the condition.

On her fundraising page, Rachel explained that her grandfather had inspired her love of sport and physical activity.

Watching Parkinson’s gradually affect his ability to move had motivated her to support others living with the disease.

Completing the New York City Marathon was intended to honour his memory while contributing to a cause close to her family.

Rachel had graduated from Bucknell University and was working as a product manager for an electrical components company.

She was also pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University.

Marathon Organisers Pay Tribute

Following Rachel’s passing, New York Road Runners, the organisation responsible for the marathon, issued a statement expressing sympathy to her family and friends.

Organisers confirmed that she was the first participant to d*e in connection with the event since 2024.

The tragedy has drawn attention to the physical demands of marathon running and the potentially serious complications that can arise during prolonged endurance exercise.

For Rachel’s family, however, the loss is far more personal.

What should have been a celebration of months of training and a tribute to her grandfather ended in an unimaginable tragedy.

Just two miles separated Rachel Apa from completing her first New York City Marathon. Her final messages to her father now stand as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly an ordinary moment of determination can become a family’s greatest loss.