SYDNEY: A young man died yesterday after collapsing near the finish line of Sydney’s biggest road race, which saw 80,000 participants run from the city to Bondi Beach, Australian authorities said.
The 27-year-old was taking part in the 14-kilometre (8.7-mile) City2Surf fun run when he had a heart attack and collapsed near the end of the course, New South Wales police and ambulance spokesmen said.
He was taken to a nearby St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition but died shortly after, a hospital spokesman said.
The man, from the Sydney suburb of Coogee, has not been named.
In 2008, a 26-year-old Briton collapsed and died after suffering a heart attack near the end of the race at Bondi Beach.
Australian Olympian Craig Mottram won the race in just under 42 minutes, joining a crowd peppered with celebrities alongside runners dressed as Lego superheroes and pandas.
American pop star Redfoo kicked off the race with a live performance.
Organisers said more than Aus$4m (US$3.70m) -- one of the highest amounts collected -- was raised for hundreds of Australian charities.
The race was launched in 1971 and is one of Australia’s biggest fund-raising drivers. More than Aus$20m has been collected for charities over the past four decades, organisers said.
Mottram, 34, who was taking part in the race for the first time, crossed the finish line in 41 minutes and 56 seconds.
“It was a tough course. I underestimated a bit,” Mottram told the Channel Seven.
“I came up the hill and pushed in and got a gap. I regretted the 11k. I just made it.”
AFP
