24-year-old runner dies near finish line of New York City Marathon

A 24-year-old woman from Pennsylvania has died after collapsing just two miles short of the finish line during the New York City Marathon.

According to international media reports, the woman, identified as Rachel, was participating in the marathon for the first time. She had joined the race to raise money for charity and support medical research.

Police said Rachel had completed most of the 26.2-mile race when she suddenly collapsed approximately two miles before reaching the finish line.

Her father said it was her first marathon and that she had suffered from a rare medical condition known as rhabdomyolysis. The condition causes damaged muscles to break down and release their contents into the bloodstream, potentially leading to serious complications.

Following the incident, Rachel was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Doctors made efforts to save her life for several hours, but she could not survive.

Rachel had taken part in the marathon to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease research in honour of her grandfather, who had been affected by the condition.

Her death has turned what was meant to be a charitable and memorable sporting achievement into a tragic incident. She had undertaken the challenging race with the aim of supporting research into a disease that had affected her family.