MINNEAPOLIS — The Twin Cities running community is mourning the loss of a 27-year-old man who collapsed and died during a race last weekend.
Minneapolis Park Police spokesperson Dawn Sommers confirms the man went down along the Bde Maka Ska Parkway during the City of Lakes Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Park Police, Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services and Minneapolis Fire Department paramedics responded and provided care before the patient was rushed to Abbot Northwestern Hospital.
He did not survive.
In a Facebook post, race organizer Run Minnesota offered condolences to the man's family, and to the entire Twin Cities running community.
"On a day meant to be a celebration, a family lost a loved one. Our hearts go out to the runner's family and all those who were close to them," the post reads. "Run Minnesota and the City of Lakes Half want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the participants on the course who came to the aid of a fellow runner and the first responders and medical professionals who provided medical care."
Those running in the race were also impacted, especially competitors who immediately rushed to aid their fallen colleague.
"So sad. I came up on the ambulance and first responders and to be honest didn’t look good... and the final 2 miles my focus was more on hoping the best for him and not so much on me and my finish," one runner commented on the Facebook post.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office will release the runner's identity and official cause of death once an autopsy has been completed.
