The 21-year-old man who became unwell last Sunday during the Utrecht marathon died in hospital on Tuesday. That reports the NOS Thursday. Nothing is known about the cause of death. Sources report to the public broadcaster that the student was fit and well trained.
Emergency services resuscitated the man along the route in the Utrecht city of Houten, and an air ambulance was also deployed. The university student was kept in an induced coma. Earlier this month, a 15-year-old participant in a running competition died in Leiden after becoming unwell.
It was exceptionally warm last week for a May weekend. On Sunday, several participants of the (half) marathons in Groningen, Utrecht and Amersfoort became unwell. In Groningen, authorities feared an ambulance shortage and ambulances from Drenthe and Overijssel were called in. In addition to Utrecht, a runner was also resuscitated and admitted to hospital in Amersfoort.
A running festival in Drenthe was canceled due to the predicted heat. “We think it is irresponsible to have runners run 42 kilometers in high temperatures and healthcare cannot deal with the problems that may arise,” the organization stated. Only a half marathon could be run in Amersfoort.
The Utrecht marathon, in which thousands of people took part, started at half past ten in the morning when the temperature was around 19 degrees. Around noon it was about 22 degrees. Spectators gathered along the route with a garden hose in hand to spray participants. Extra water was also distributed.
The deceased man was a member of the Utrecht student association Veritas. “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of a member of our association,” writes the association board in a statement. Veritas has declared five days of mourning.
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