A 21 year old has passed away this Sunday after participating in the Elche Half Marathon. Apparently, the young man has collapsed when crossing the finish line, where the health services have done “everything possible” and have transferred him from “urgently” to a hospital centeras indicated by the organization of the race in their social networks.
The events occurred this Sunday in Elche (Alicante) after the young man had finished his participation in the 50th edition of the Half Marathonin which more than 3,200 runners have participated.
⚫️ The Elche City Council deeply regrets the death of a 21-year-old runner from Elche who participated in the 50th edition of the Half Marathon held this Sunday through the streets of the city.
🚑 The runner collapsed when crossing the finish line and was assisted in… pic.twitter.com/OPySYgpmjm
— Ajuntament d’Elx – Elche City Council (@ajuntamentelx) March 12, 2023
“It is time to comfort his family and respect these moments of pain, all the components of Media Elche want to send a big hug to all his family and friends, and to all our participants”, the organization has expressed.
The heat wave has not played a role in favor of the test, which lasted an hour and a half and, despite resuscitation attempts, the authorities have confirmed the death by heart attack.
The Elche Half Marathon is a race organized by the Elche Decathlon Athletics Club and the Elche City Council and is characterized by being the oldest in the world at those distanceswith an urban circuit of 21,000 meters in length and approved by the Spanish Athletics Federation.
For his part, the mayor of the municipality, Carlos Gonzalezhas transferred its condolences to the athlete’s family on behalf of the municipal corporation and has made itself available to “resolve any management they need to carry out.”
“We deeply regret this tragic event on a sports holiday, especially for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of this event so loved by the people of Elche,” said the mayor, who added that he hopes that the medical services Clarify the circumstances of the death on a day in which the race was marked by strong heat that made it tougher than usual on a course with hardly any difficulties”.
Likewise, he thanked the work carried out by the health services, in addition to that of the volunteers, the Police and other members of the organization for “pay attention to this participant who, unfortunately, has passed away”.
