Gold Coast Marathon runners rushed to hospital after reported cardiac arrests

One of the two Gold Coast Marathon runners who collapsed on course near the finish has passed away in hospital as more details emerge about the harrowing mid-race incidents. Read the latest

Two Gold Coast Marathon runners have been rushed to hospital after collapsing during the race.

A runner who reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest on the Gold Coast Marathon course has died in hospital.

The victim was identified as a 34-year-old French national whose partner was believed to have witnessed him collapse just 100m from the finish line.

Queensland Ambulance Service supervisor Justin Payne said a doctor and a paramedic were on the scene and attended to him within a minute.

Mr Payne said a defibrillator was applied to the man and he was taken by ambulance to Gold Coast University Hospital where he tragically died on Monday morning.

He said a 29-year-old marathon runner was also taken to hospital in a serious condition after collapsing at Biggera Waters.

Mr Payne said the man had suffered severe overheating, or hyperthermia, and remained in hospital on Monday.

Mr Payne said the marathon was “extremely gruelling” and it was “unfortunately not exceptionally uncommon” to see cardiac arrests, even among younger people.

“People are pushing themselves to an extreme,” he said.

“Weather conditions yesterday were quite mild but we were treating a lot of patients during that exact time period who were experiencing extreme heat-related stress.”

Mr Payne said it was not clear whether the man who died had any underlying medical issues but people entering the marathon needed to train properly, stay hydrated and stop running immediately if they felt unwell.

The other man remained in a critical condition on Monday morning.

Paramedics were called for assistance at 9.45am and again just after 10am Sunday during the big race.

Two Gold Coast Marathon runners were rushed to hospital after collapsing during the race.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said both were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital in critical conditions at the time.

Events Management Queensland, overseeing the Gold Coast Marathon, sent a statement on Monday after the death saying it “extends its sincere condolences to the family of the male participant who passed away in hospital today following a medical episode at yesterday’s Gold Coast Marathon.

“The EMQ team has reached out to the next of kin to personally share their sympathies and offer support. Our thoughts are with all those persons impacted by this very sad incident.”

Earlier, the EMQ confirmed in a statement two male marathon runners were rushed to hospital on the Sunday:

“We cannot release names/ages of the participants who suffered medical episodes at the marathon today while families are still being engaged,” the statement added.

“We can confirm two male marathon participants were transferred to hospital. They are in the care of the Gold Coast Hospital medical professionals.

“We thank the on-course medical team for swift provision of critical care which ensured rapid transfer to hospital. Our thoughts are with the participants and their families.”

An ambulance was seen on course 100 metres from the finish about 10am Sunday.

More than 24,000 people competed in race events across the weekend.