NYC Marathon Runner Collapsed Near Mile 24 — The Stranger Who Held Her Hand Later Revealed What She Noticed

Rachel Apa was nearing the finish line of the New York City Marathon when she suddenly collapsed. A woman who rushed to help later revealed a heartbreaking detail from the rescue.

The 24-year-old’s race took a tragic turn just miles from the finish. As bystanders fought to save her, one witness experienced a deeply personal moment she would later describe.

The 2026 New York City Marathon took runners through all five boroughs before finishing in Central Park. For Rachel Apa, the 26.2-mile race would become a day her family and fellow runners would never forget.

Apa had spent years embracing athletic challenges, but on November 1, 2026, she was attempting something new: her first New York City Marathon.

Her family was following her progress as she ran through the city’s five boroughs. With the finish line approaching, the race took a devastating turn.

Rachel Took on the NYC Marathon for a Personal Reason

The TCS New York City Marathon follows a 26.2-mile route through all five boroughs, ending in Central Park.

The 2026 event marked the 50th anniversary of the five-borough course, which was first used in 1976. New York Road Runners (NYRR) made minor adjustments to the Bronx section of the route, its first course changes in 15 years.

According to NYRR’s official guidance, medical aid stations are located approximately every mile beginning at Mile 3, with additional assistance at the finish.

Medical volunteers and supplies are available at the stations. The organization’s medical team also has access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in designated medical tents and ambulances.

For Rachel, however, completing the course meant more than reaching a personal milestone.

She was running with the Parkinson’s Champions team in memory of her grandfather, who died in 2022 after living with Parkinson’s disease.

In her personal fundraising statement, Rachel described how her grandfather encouraged her love of sports and physical challenges. “My grandfather was my role model growing up,” she wrote.

She explained that watching the disease gradually limit his ability to move had inspired her to support research, improved care, and a cure. “Every mile and every donation brings us one step closer to a future without Parkinson’s,” Rachel wrote.

On race day, she set out to complete those miles with her family cheering her on.

Rachel Started Her First Marathon Feeling Strong

Rachel’s father, Steve Apa, followed the marathon from the family’s hometown of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Michelle, and two friends traveled around New York City to watch her along the course.

Steve told TODAY that he spoke with his daughter before the race and recalled that she was “so excited about it.” The two stayed in contact through text messages as Rachel made her way through the course.

At approximately 11:30 a.m., when she reached Mile 9, Rachel sent her father a familiar phrase they had shared for years.

“Hey, go,” she wrote. She followed it with an encouraging update. “I feel amazing,” Rachel texted. “I’ve never felt this good.” Steve reminded her not to push herself too hard.

“Great, don’t overdo it. First marathon. This is a learning run. Don’t overdo it,” he replied.

Michelle later saw Rachel pass Mile 14. But as the race continued, the tone of Rachel’s messages began to change.

Rachel’s Messages Changed as She Approached Mile 24

A few miles after passing her mother, Rachel sent Steve a short message. “Ugh,” she wrote. Steve encouraged her, reminding her that she had made it past Mile 18. “You beat the 18,” he replied.

Rachel responded with another brief update. “Ow, ow,” she wrote. Her father told her to take it easy.

At Mile 20, she sent another “Ow, ow” in response to his message. Steve continued checking on Rachel as she reached Miles 21, 22, and 23.

At Mile 23, he emphasized that finishing mattered more than speed. “All finish, not speed,” he wrote.

Around 1:30 p.m., Steve sent another message as Rachel approached Mile 24. Soon afterward, her location stopped updating on the marathon’s tracking application. Near that point on the course, Rachel had collapsed.

A Witness Rushed to Rachel as Bystanders Tried to Save Her

Hospital social worker Michaela Nicholas was among the people who came to Rachel’s aid.

Michaela checked the runner but could not find a pulse, according to The New York Times (NYT). Her fiancée called for a doctor as others gathered around.

Three bystanders, including two who identified themselves as physicians, took turns performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Michaela stayed beside Rachel, holding her hand and reassuring her that she was not alone.

The people helping had come together unexpectedly, but they worked toward the same goal. “We worked as a team to do whatever we could to help Rachel,” Michaela told FOX 5 New York.

The efforts continued, but Rachel remained unresponsive. “They tried everything, and she was not responding,” Nicholas recalled. As Michaela held the runner’s hand, she noticed a small detail that prompted a deeply personal response.

A Small Detail on Rachel’s Wrist Moved a Stranger to Pray

Michaela noticed a bracelet bearing a cross on Rachel’s wrist. The symbol caught her attention as the others continued trying to revive the young runner.

“And so I said a prayer for her,” Michaela recalled during her FOX 5 interview. She also described rubbing the cross while hoping Rachel would recover.

Michaela remained at her side during the emergency, offering reassurance as others continued their efforts.

The moment became one of the most personal details she later shared about the rescue. Meanwhile, professional medical personnel were making their way to the scene.

Medical Responders Reached Rachel Near Mile 24

Timestamped photographs and videos reviewed by the NYT placed Rachel’s collapse at approximately 1:33 p.m. A marathon medical team wearing red shirts arrived by 1:40 p.m., roughly seven minutes later.

The newspaper reported that a defibrillator was used sometime between 1:41 p.m. and 1:50 p.m. NYRR confirmed that a bystander performed CPR before its medical staff took over and used a defibrillator.

Michaela later criticized the time it took professional responders to arrive. “It was an unacceptable amount of time,” she told the NYT. Paramedics transported Rachel to the hospital as her family tried to find out what had happened.

Rachel’s Mother Searched for Her Near the Finish

Michelle and Rachel’s friends were waiting near Mile 25 when they noticed that her location remained at Mile 24.

Michelle called Steve, who told her to find their daughter. He sent Rachel another message explaining that her mother was walking toward her. Rachel never replied.

When Michelle reached the area, she began calling out her daughter’s name, according to TODAY. An emergency medical worker told her that an ambulance had already taken Rachel to the hospital.

The worker drove Michelle to Mount Sinai Medical Center in a second ambulance. Steve, meanwhile, began driving from Pennsylvania to New York.

At the hospital, doctors worked for more than six hours to save Rachel, but she could not be revived. Her father later described what the family had been told about her sudden death.

Rachel’s Father Shares What Doctors Told the Family

Steve said doctors told the family that Rachel died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition can occur after intense physical exertion, injury, or other medical conditions. It causes damaged muscles to release substances into the bloodstream, potentially leading to kidney damage or failure.

For Steve, the loss was particularly difficult to understand given Rachel’s long athletic history and apparent health. “It’s unfathomable,” he told the NYT. “Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old.”

Rachel had spent much of her life competing in sports, and her ambitions had continued beyond college.

Rachel Built a Life Around Sports, Education, and Work

Before attempting her first marathon, Rachel played Division I field hockey at Bucknell University.

According to her official athletics profile, she appeared in 63 games, made 42 starts, and recorded 17 goals and six assists.

She also earned academic honors, including recognition on the Academic All-Patriot League Team and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad.

After graduating from Bucknell in 2024, Rachel worked as a product manager at TE Connectivity, according to her LinkedIn profile. She had also begun pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University while working full-time.

Steve remembered his daughter as someone who consistently embraced challenges. “She was always on the go, always go, and it doesn’t matter if it’s school or sports or whatever it is. She was go,” he told TODAY.

Tributes Remember Rachel Apa’s Determination and Lasting Impact

Following Rachel’s death, several organizations connected to the marathon, her athletic career, and her charitable efforts paid tribute to her life.

New York Road Runners (NYRR), which organizes the New York City Marathon, expressed its sadness over Rachel’s death following the November 1 race. “Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community,” they said in a statement reported by CBS News.

The Parkinson’s Foundation also mourned Rachel’s passing and recognized her participation in its Parkinson’s Champions team.

The foundation acknowledged her decision to run in memory of her grandfather, who died in 2022 after living with Parkinson’s disease, and expressed gratitude for her support of its mission.

USA Field Hockey paid tribute to Rachel, recognizing her connections to Bucknell University, Red Land High School, and Central Penn Field Hockey.

The organization extended condolences to her family, friends, teammates, and coaches.

In a tribute, Central Penn Field Hockey reflected on Rachel’s nine years with the program before she went on to play Division I field hockey at Bucknell University.

The club shared its memories of Rachel as a young athlete.

“On the field, she played with intensity and determination. She was competitive, serious about the game, and gave 100% every single time, always with a smile and an unwavering commitment to her teammates,” the club recalled.

The organization also recognized Rachel’s decision to run the marathon in honor of her grandfather, who had inspired her love of movement and encouraged her to pursue new challenges.

It revealed that Rachel had surpassed her fundraising goal for the Parkinson’s Foundation before her death.

The club extended condolences to the Apa family, her former teammates, and their families. It also encouraged others to honor Rachel by supporting the cause she had been running for.

Meanwhile, Bucknell Athletics shared a tribute from the university’s field hockey program, expressing heartbreak over her death and sympathy for her family.

The program reflected on Rachel’s lasting influence on her teammates and the wider Bucknell community, emphasizing that her contributions extended beyond her accomplishments on the field.

“Rachel’s spirit will be everlasting; her impact on the people and program will never be forgotten. We hope the Apa family can find some comfort in knowing she helped create something truly special here and will always hold a place in our hearts,” the team said.

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