Man Dies During Half Marathon
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – One man died while running the half marathon Sunday.
Officials confirm a 23-year-old male died during the event.
He collapsed near the 12-mile marker, which was located by Duquesne University.
The man has been identified as 23-year-old Kyle Johnson. Johnson played football at North Allegheny and graduated from Penn State a year ago today.
His stepfather says he was a normal, healthy 23-year-old with no health problems.
"I did meet with the family at the hospital. It was a profoundly sad meeting," said Dr. Ron Roth, the marathon's medical director and professor of emergency medicine at Pitt. "I related our condolences to them."
Roth said Johnson collapsed right in front of the marathon medics who tried to revive him. He was also taken to UPMC Mercy Hospital where they continued to try to resuscitate him, but were unsuccessful.
"I am sad to report that one of our half marathon runners passed away today," the Race Director Patricia Matamoros wrote on the Pittsburgh Marathon's website. "This is a loss for the entire marathon family and our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this time."
UPMC officials say a specific cause for Johnson's death has not been determined.
Officials say 129 people were treated at the finish line -- 28 of which were also taken to the hospital, which is lower than last year's numbers.
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