Comrades stats reveal 19 admitted to hospital
The Comrades Marathon Association implements extensive medical, emergency, first aid and physiotherapy provisions for its thousands of participants, and 341 runners received medical treatment at the finish venue.
COMRADES Marathon Association (CMA) race doctor Jeremy Boulter has revealed that 19 patients were admitted to hospital after this year’s down run, with seven athletes currently in ICU, in stable condition and soon to be discharged.
On Tuesday evening, Boulter revealed the medical statistics on the race that showed 341 runners receiving medical treatment at the finish venue medical facility at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
He added that the CMA has implemented extensive medical, emergency, first aid and physiotherapy provisions for its thousands of participants.
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“The Comrades Marathon is a tough race. The aim of our extensive medical provisions is to allow us to help a runner in just about any medical eventuality should the need arise.’
“The majority of the runners who were attended to at the medical facility were dehydrated and exhausted. Although these are fairly minor symptoms, our medical staff had another busy Comrades race day on their hands but all within their grasp,” he said.
The news comes on the back of the deaths of two runners, Phakamile Ntshiza and Mzameleni Mthembu.
The CMA confirmed that Mthembu suffered a heart attack on the Comrades route in Pinetown. He was taken to Westville Hospital, where he later died.
While details are still unknown, Ntshiza had reportedly passed away while running close to the halfway mark before he could be transported to hospital.
