A 24-year-old woman from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, died after collapsing near the finish line of the New York City Marathon due to a rare medical condition.
YORK, Pa. —
A 24-year-old woman from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, collapsed near the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday and passed away hours later due to a rare medical condition.
Rachel Apa grew up in Lewisberry Borough and attended Red Land High School. In a statement, the West Shore School District said, “The West Shore School District community is deeply saddened by the passing of Rachel Apa, a 2020 graduate of Red Land High School. Through her many accomplishments as a student-athlete and in the years following graduation, Rachel made a lasting impact on Red Land and the District as a whole.”
Apa also attended Bucknell University, where she played field hockey and scored 17 goals during her collegiate career. Bucknell University released a statement saying, “The Bucknell community mourns her loss and extends its heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved her.”
Steve Apa, Rachel’s father, said doctors informed him that Rachel died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition that causes muscles to break down from overexertion.
Dr. Mohamed Somad, a WellSpan nephrologist, explained, “It’s not rare to have some muscle injury, but it is rare to have the extent of muscle damage that can lead to organ failure and death, especially in an otherwise healthy person.”
The doctor added that while regular exercise can sometimes lead to minor muscle injuries, “it’s extremely rare” to see the level of damage that causes organ failure, kidney failure, or death.