NATIONAL NEWS - Two Comrades Marathon runners have died and a third is in a serious condition in hospital, taking some gloss off the hearty return of the popular race on Sunday.
The Comrades Marathon Association’s medical staff confirmed yesterday that a Gauteng runner, who is yet to be named, died from a heart attack before the halfway point of the 90km ultra-marathon and a second runner from Durban, Mzamo Mthembu, likely died of a similar cause in hospital after collapsing in Pinetown.
The third runner, whose name and condition also can’t be released at this stage, is lying in a Durban hospital, with the Comrades’ chief medical officer, Dr. Jeremy Boulter, saying yesterday that he was waiting anxiously for an update on his situation.
Over 14 500 runners qualified to run the Comrades from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday and 13 000-odd actually ran – greeted by equally excited spectators all along the route. The runners came from 72 countries and the atmosphere was festival-like, as everybody celebrated the return of the iconic race after a two-year hiatus caused by Covid-19.
But the joy was partly decimated by the serious medical update given by Boulter yesterday. He said: “The guy from Gauteng was 49-years-old. When he collapsed, an alert was sent out to the emergency number and one of the medical staff on a motorbike responded in two minutes.
“An attempt was made to revive the patient, but this was unsuccessful. “It can be assumed that the other person who died from Durban probably died of the same cause, but this after being taken to hospital. I am waiting for a report on his case.”
A father of four, Mthembu’s death was also confirmed yesterday by his running club, Hollywoodbets Athletics Club, through a Facebook statement. “He had complications along the route and collapsed in Pinetown and was taken to Westville Hospital where he sadly passed away,” the statement reads. “Condolences to the entire #Purple family, Mthembu family and friends. May his soul rest in peace.”
Boulter said that, sadly, there is also a third runner “who is in a serious condition in hospital in Durban”.
“I can’t give any details about him at this stage, but we hope he shows improvement soon.”
Sunday’s race was the 47th down run of the Comrades. Next year’s edition will also be in the direction of Pietermaritzburg to Durban, but the date has yet to be finalised, the Comrades Marathon Association said last week.
