A 31 year old runner collapsed and died after crossing the finish line of the Madrid Half marathon this morning. Another two runners were hospitalised, one of them in a serious condition.
A record 12,700 runners set off at 09:00 this morning from Parque de El Retiro and although it was quite cool at the start, later temperatures reached 18 degrees.
The 31 year old athlete crossed the finish line but then collapsed, suffering cardiorespiratory failure, a heart attack. Medics at the field hospital set up near the finish line tried for 30 minutes to revive him and resuscitation was continued in the ambulance on the way to hospital. However, they were ultimately unsuccessful and the man died.
Another runner, a 38 year old, suffered heat stroke and was taken to the Hospital Gregorio Marañón where his condition is said to be serious.
A 25 year old runner was taken to the Hospital Clinico after he too suffered a heart attack shortly after crossing the finish line.
The last 3 kilometres of the race, uphill, were particularly hard on the athletes and quite a few runners had to be treated for dizziness, fainting and the effects of the weather.