24-year-old runner Rachel Apa dies after collapsing during NYC Marathon

Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner in the New York City Marathon, died Sunday night after collapsing in Central Park about two miles from the finish line, according to her family.

Her father, Stephen Apa, said he had been texting his daughter during the race and that she appeared to be doing well earlier on the course.

"After her nine miles, she said she was doing great. I told her, ' Don't overdo it. It's your first marathon," he said.

Stephen Apa spoke by phone from the family's home in Lewiston, Pennsylvania. He said his daughter, a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, continued texting him during the race before she collapsed.

"And then 24 and she didn't text me back at all at any of those, and I just wanted to give her pings so she knew I was still there, you know, watching," he said.

Recalling their final exchange, he said, "She texted me right before 18 and said UGG."

He said that shortly afterward, she texted "ow, ow."

"After that she texted ow, ow. I said go easy, and she said 'ow,' and I said go easy," he said.

It was the last time he heard from his oldest child and only daughter.

Michaela Nicholas, 28, said she and her fiancé were cheering for runners when they saw Apa collapse.

"After she passed by about 5 yards ahead of us, I saw her collapse on the ground," Nicholas said.

"My fiancé immediately screamed for help, screamed for a doctor across the way and I ran to Rachel," she said.

Nicholas said a runner called 911 while doctors in the crowd rushed to Apa and began CPR after finding no pulse.

"I got down next to her and held her hand and I told her that she was loved and wasn't alone," Nicholas said.

Apa's mother, who was waiting for her at mile 25, arrived as an ambulance transported her to Mount Sinai Hospital.

According to her family, Apa worked as a product manager and had recently begun pursuing a master's degree in business. She was running the marathon to raise money in honor of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson's disease.

Stephen Apa said doctors told him his daughter may have collapsed because of a rare muscle condition that can be triggered by exertion.

Jennifer Miao of the ABC News Medical Unit said rhabdomyolysis can affect marathon runners and others engaged in intense physical activity.

"Rhabdo can occur in anybody as young as someone in their 20s that's training for a marathon," Miao said.

As he reflected on his daughter's death, Stephen Apa shared a brief message.

"That I love her. That's it," he said.

New York Road Runners, which organizes the TCS New York City Marathon, issued a statement saying: "We are deeply saddened by Rachel's passing. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community."

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