The 24-year-old NYC runner, Rachel Apa's heartbreaking final moment was revealed by a witness who held her hand when she collapsed.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe 24-year-old Rachel Apa was running in the New York City Marathon when she collapsed just before the finish line, and later she passed away. Her death left many wondering, as she was too young, fit, and at the prime of her health. A witness, who comforted her during the final moments of her life, revealed the whole ordeal.
A New York City Marathon spectator revealed how she was by Rachel Apa's side. Hospital social worker Michaela Nicholas and her fiance were the ones who rushed to be with her. Michaela was the one who held her hand during the last moments of her life and told her that she wasn't alone.
Michaela revealed that she spotted Rachel running by at around 1:30 p.m., as she was dressed in green with 'Rachel' written across her bib. They both cheered for her. But within a few moments, they glanced up the road around the 24-mile marker and saw Rachel was on the floor.
Two doctors from the audience rushed to her side and gave her CPR. Nicholas said a prayer as she rubbed the cross on Rachel's bracelet and knew that thing was serious with her. She remained with Rachel till the medical help arrived and only left Central Park once she was placed in the ambulance.
She was also the one who scrolled through the names of the 61,000 runners who participated to find Rachel and got her parents' names and phone numbers. She called the two nearest hospitals to where the incident happened and told them to write down Rachel's parents' numbers and contact them.
It was six hours later that Rachel died from the rare muscle condition rhabdomyolysis, as per her devastated father. She revealed that she didn't find out about her death until November 2, 2026. She contacted her parents and told them that they were not alone. They thanked her while they themselves have been grieving the loss of their 24-year-old daughter.
For those who don't know, Rachel was an athlete who played for four years on Bucknell University's field hockey team in NCAA Division I. The top level of U.S. college sports, and graduated in 2024. She moved to South Carolina to pursue her master's degree in business administration while working as a product manager at an electronic components company.
Her father remembered her as an ambitious young woman who never slowed down in life. She called her a go-getter. And she wasn't the one to sit around about anything. Rachel's close friend, Isabella Pavlides, revealed that she has been a 'determined' and 'passionate' athlete who believed she could achieve anything she set her mind to. She said:
"I always admired Rachel’s work ethic and the way she approached pretty much everything, especially with field hockey. She was so competitive, and when she had her mind set on something, and she wanted something, she put her whole heart into it and truly believed that she could get it done."
We pray for Rachel Apa's family in these testing times.
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