Healthy 24-year-old athlete dies just 2 miles from NYC marathon finish line after sending dad chilling texts

New York City marathon runner Rachel Apa died on Sunday after collapsing at mile 24.

Apa, 24, set out to run the world-famous race on Nov. 1 for the first time, along with more than 60,000 other runners.

The former Bucknell University Division I field hockey player had reportedly trained for the marathon for months. The New York Times reported details from the runner's parents, Michelle and Steve Apa, on Monday.

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Michelle Apa said she watched her daughter run by at mile 14 in Long Island City, Queens. She took a video of Apa looking strong, smiling and giving out high-fives before taking off again.

The runner's mother then headed toward the finish line, planning to wait for her daughter at mile 25 in Central Park.

Steve Apa was back home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, sending his daughter supportive texts at every mile as he tracked her in the New York Road Runners app.

Rachel Apa reportedly texted her father back at mile 18, saying, "Ow." And once again at mile 19, "Ow ow."

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At mile 23, Steve Apa texted, "Final stretch." Rachel Apa never responded again, according to The New York Times.

Spectator Michaela Nicholas reportedly witnessed Apa pass by in her matching green shorts and tank top near mile 24 in Central Park. She cheered Apa on with only two miles to go. Seconds later, at around 1:30 p.m., Apa collapsed.

Nicholas, who is a hospital social worker, ran over to help and declared that Apa did not have a pulse. After Nicholas’ fiancée called for a doctor, two people who claimed to be physicians hopped in, taking turns administering CPR. Nicholas said she held Apa’s hand the whole time.

The New York Road Runners, the marathon organizers, told the Times that marathon medical staff arrived soon after and used a defibrillator to try to revive Apa. Paramedics then arrived with an ambulance.

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After realizing Apa was not moving in the tracking app, Michelle Apa reportedly headed to her daughter's location. When she arrived, the ambulance transporting her daughter was pulling away.

Michelle Apa was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors worked to save Rachel Apa’s life for more than six hours. She was declared dead at around 9:40 p.m., according to the report.

Steve Apa told The New York Times that his daughter's cause of death was rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle condition that occurs after injury, severe dehydration and overheating, or, most typically, excessive, high-intensity exercise without rest.

"It’s unfathomable," he said. "Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old."

The condition, also known as rhabdo, causes the muscles to break down when over-exerted, which leads to muscle death, according to Cleveland Clinic.

When this disintegration occurs, toxic components of the muscle fibers can enter the circulatory system and kidneys, which can cause kidney damage, essentially acting as poison to the body.

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Common signs of rhabdo include weak muscles, muscle stiffness and swelling, muscle pain and a change in urine shade, closer to a brown, red or tea color. It can also lead to nausea, dehydration and loss of consciousness.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, typically developing one to three days after the muscle injury.

The condition is life-threatening, as physicians encourage listening to your body and seeking medical attention immediately.

"If you feel especially sore or tired during a workout, stop and rest," Cleveland Clinic recommends. "Don’t push yourself beyond safe limits."

"[Stay] hydrated and avoid getting overheated. Take breaks in the shade if you’re doing physical activity in the heat."

The New York Road Runners told the Times that the last marathon death occurred during a medical incident in 2024.

In a statement responding to Apa’s death, the organization said, "We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner’s family, friends and the entire running community."

Fox News Digital reached out to the New York Road Runners for comment.

Rachel Apa was working as a product manager for an electrical component company while working on receiving her MBA at Charleston Southern University, according to the report.

She was running to raise money to fight Parkinson’s disease, in honor of her late grandfather.

On the Parkinson’s Champions fundraising website, Apa wrote what her grandfather meant to her.

"My grandfather was my role model growing up," she said. "He taught me to stay active, push my limits and embrace challenges, shaping my love for sports and movement."

"Later in life, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and I watched as the disease slowly took away the freedom to move that he once loved so much. He passed away in 2022, but the lessons he taught me continue to drive me forward."

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She added, "I'm proud to run with Parkinson's Foundation Champions to raise funds and awareness for research, better care and a cure."

Rachel Apa has raised more than $13,000 and counting for the cause.

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Bird flu kills US resident after dairy cow exposure, marking nation’s third death

A resident of Yakima County, Washington, has died from complications of bird flu, public health officials confirmed, marking a rare fatal human case of the virus in the United States.

The individual, who had underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized with severe illness after contracting avian influenza through exposure to infected livestock at a local dairy facility.

Local officials declined to release the person’s name, age or gender, citing privacy concerns.

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"Our hearts go out to the individual's family and loved ones during this difficult time," Dr. Dave Atteberry, health officer for the Yakima Health District, said in a statement.

"Avian influenza can cause severe illness, particularly among people who have underlying health conditions," he went on. "While this is a serious and heartbreaking outcome, the risk to the general public remains low."

Health officials on Monday also confirmed a third human case of avian influenza in Yakima County. That individual, who was also exposed to infected dairy cattle at a local farm, has not been hospitalized and has not experienced severe illness.

Public health teams are actively tracing and monitoring close contacts of both individuals for potential symptoms.

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"People at greater risk include dairy workers and others who have close or prolonged contact with infected animals or environments contaminated with the virus," the health district said in an advisory.

"If you work on a dairy farm and develop symptoms after potential exposure to infected cattle, contact your health care provider or the Yakima Health District."

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a disease caused by influenza type A viruses that typically spread among wild aquatic birds and domestic poultry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In recent years, an outbreak of the H5N1 strain has expanded beyond birds to infect various mammals, including domestic dairy cows and outdoor livestock.

Federal and state health officials emphasize that the overall risk to the general public remains low.

Person-to-person spread of bird flu is extremely rare and has not been identified in the U.S., according to the CDC.

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Agricultural workers, veterinarians and people in close, prolonged contact with infected animals, raw milk or contaminated manure are at the greatest risk of exposure, the above agency states.

Commercial pasteurized milk and properly cooked poultry remain safe to consume, as heat kills the virus.

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Bird flu infections in humans can range from mild to severe. The most common symptoms reported in recent farm-related cases include the following.

Health authorities advise the public to avoid handling sick or dead wild birds and livestock.

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Farm personnel and dairy workers should wear recommended personal protective equipment — such as N95 respirators, eye goggles and fluid-resistant gloves — whenever handling potentially infected livestock or contaminated surfaces.

Anyone developing respiratory or eye symptoms after animal exposure should seek medical evaluation promptly.

The Yakima Health District updates its local avian influenza case figures and guidance twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays at 2 p.m.

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Child’s measles death marks New York state’s first in more than 30 years amid outbreak

A child in New York state's Lewis County died in the first known measles-associated death in the state in more than 30 years amid an ongoing measles outbreak, officials announced on Monday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was "heartbroken" to learn of the child's death.

"As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this child," Hochul said in a statement.

"Measles is highly contagious, and vaccination remains our best protection against this dangerous disease. This is New York’s first measles-related death in 30 years, a devastating reminder of what’s at stake when Washington deliberately erodes decades of progress in protecting Americans from preventable illnesses," she added. "In New York, we will continue to stand by proven public health measures and do everything we can to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy."

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The Trump administration has made changes to federal vaccine policy, including revising the childhood immunization schedule and reviewing how vaccines are recommended. The CDC, however, continues to recommend two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children and says two doses provide the best protection against measles.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a response to Hochul's comments.

The child's death comes four weeks after Hochul declared a State Disaster Emergency in response to the measles outbreak across areas of New York and neighboring states, expanding the pool of eligible people who can administer measles vaccines and providing quick access to additional resources if needed.

The governor said last month she planned to seek federal assistance to combat the outbreak.

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The New York State Department of Health said it is working with county health departments and local partners to provide the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to any unvaccinated people who request it and to closely monitor and investigate all reported cases.

As of Oct. 24, New York had recorded 178 measles cases this year — 170 outside New York City and eight in the city.

State health officials urged New Yorkers to protect themselves by making sure they are up-to-date on their measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines and be aware of health advisories if traveling with unvaccinated people, especially young children.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of a child in Lewis County associated with the ongoing measles outbreak. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the child's family and loved ones and ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time," the New York State Department of Health said in a statement.

The department said measles is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications and death, stressing that vaccination is the "best protection against measles."

"The Department has offered resources to Lewis County to assist with community outreach and support local vaccination efforts – both in response to this case, and as part of our ongoing efforts to support counties that are facing this ongoing measles outbreak," the department's statement reads. "We urge New Yorkers to ensure they are up-to-date on measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations and speak to their healthcare provider about immunizations."

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Dangerous mosquito-borne virus surges in popular US state as cases reach highest levels in decades

Florida health officials have confirmed 485 locally acquired cases of dengue fever this year, as the state grapples with its largest outbreak in decades.

Between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24, state surveillance logged 60 new infections, with the Tampa Bay area accounting for roughly 95% of all locally acquired cases recorded statewide, according to the Florida Department of Health.

The surge prompted emergency declarations in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties in late September, allowing for faster purchasing and spraying and requests for state and federal reimbursement. Hillsborough County has since extended its state of local emergency amid ongoing transmission.

DENGUE FEVER OUTBREAK TRIGGERS STATES OF EMERGENCY IN 3 SOUTHERN COUNTIES

The locally acquired infections are separate from more than 300 travel-associated dengue cases reported in Florida this year.

The Florida Mosquito Control Association said mosquito abatement teams are stepping up targeted ground spraying, aerial applications and localized property inspections.

Dengue is a viral illness transmitted primarily through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The virus can cause fever, severe muscle and joint pain, nausea, rash and, in severe cases, dangerous complications or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unlike many mosquito species that bite mostly at dawn and dusk, the mosquitoes carrying dengue feed aggressively during daytime hours and thrive in humid residential environments.

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"The Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit dengue are active during the day and thrive in warm, humid environments like those found in Florida," an entomologist spokesperson at the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science and Family Health previously told Fox News Digital.

"Staying aware of local mosquito activity and consistently protecting against bites are important steps people can take to help reduce their risk."

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Public health officials emphasize that Aedes mosquitoes are "container breeders," requiring as little as a tablespoon of standing water to lay eggs. Officials urge residents to inspect yards weekly and drain or cover birdbaths, gutters, planters, discarded tires and outdoor containers.

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Health authorities recommend taking the following additional precautions.

Most people infected with dengue experience mild or no symptoms, typically recovering within two weeks, according to Mayo Clinic.

When symptoms do occur, they usually surface four to 10 days after an infectious bite. Severe dengue can progress rapidly within 24 to 48 hours after the initial fever drops.

Warning signs include persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, mucosal bleeding and extreme lethargy.

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Anyone experiencing those signs should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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New cancer treatment approach could help immune cells fight tumors longer

Scientists may have found a way to help the body's immune cells fight cancer for longer, potentially making some treatments more effective.

Researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that temporarily boosting a protein called p53 helped specially prepared immune cells stay stronger and kill more melanoma cells in laboratory experiments.

The study, published in Frontiers in Immunology, focused on T cells, which are immune cells that help the body fight disease.

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Some cancer treatments take a patient's T cells, modify them in a lab so they can recognize cancer, and then return them to the body to attack tumors.

One challenge is that these cells can eventually become "exhausted," making them less effective at fighting cancer, the UCLA researchers said.

To address that problem, researchers treated human T cells with an experimental drug called navtemadlin, which temporarily increases the activity of p53, a protein known for helping to prevent cancer.

The treated T cells showed fewer signs of exhaustion, had more energy and developed characteristics that could help them last longer. When tested against melanoma cells in the lab, they were also significantly more effective at killing the cancer cells than untreated T cells, according to the research.

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Kien Vuu, a Los Angeles-based triple board-certified physician and former UCLA assistant clinical professor, confirmed that T-cell exhaustion is one of the biggest challenges encountered with these treatments.

"After repeated encounters with cancer, they become 'exhausted' and lose their ability to multiply and attack," Vuu, who was not involved in the research, told Fox News Digital.

Vuu said the approach could offer a relatively simple way to strengthen existing treatments.

"The practical appeal is simplicity," he said. "Rather than adding another genetic modification, this approach adds a drug during the manufacturing step, when a patient's T cells are being prepared in the lab."

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If the approach works in further research, Vuu said it could potentially help T cells remain effective for longer, particularly when treating solid tumors.

The findings are still preliminary, however.

"This is early, laboratory-stage research," Vuu acknowledged. "The experiments were done with human cells in a dish against melanoma cells, not in animals or people."

Researchers will need to test the approach in animals and other types of cancer before moving into clinical trials, according to Vuu.

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The amount of the drug will also need to be carefully studied. The UCLA researchers found that higher doses caused more T cells to die, while lower doses produced the desired effects without substantially reducing the number of healthy cells.

"Dosing is especially important," Vuu said. "The researchers found that too much p53 activation actually killed more of the T cells, so getting the balance right will be critical."

"Patients shouldn't expect this in the clinic soon, but it's a promising new direction worth following."

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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Type 2 diabetes patients 21 times more likely to achieve remission with intensive lifestyle changes

A strict routine combining a low-calorie diet with supervised strength and aerobic training helped more than half of younger adults reverse type 2 diabetes within six months, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas.

The study, dubbed the RESET for Remission trial, found that 54% of participants under age 45 who completed the intensive lifestyle program achieved disease remission.

In comparison, only 4% of participants receiving standard medical care reached the same milestone.

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Type 2 diabetes diagnosed at a younger age is historically aggressive, according to medical literature.

Patients diagnosed before 45 face a faster loss of blood sugar control, earlier cardiovascular complications and a shorter overall life expectancy than those diagnosed later in life.

Researchers from McGill University in Canada and the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom enrolled 96 adults between the ages of 18 and 45 who were living with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes. None of the participants were using insulin.

The intervention group halted their blood sugar and blood pressure medications under medical supervision and began an intensive 800- to 900-calorie daily diet.

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For the first two weeks, patients consumed only meal-replacement products. From weeks three through 12, they were allowed one structured meal of lean protein and vegetables each day alongside meal replacements, before shifting into a weight maintenance phase for the final 12 weeks.

The program paired calorie restriction with supervised aerobic and resistance training twice weekly, plus one weekly solo workout.

"Our study shows that it is possible to combine a low-calorie diet with supervised exercise in young adults with type 2 diabetes," lead author Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta, a professor of medicine and director of the Division of General Internal Medicine at McGill University, told Fox News Digital.

"There has previously been some concern about combining the two as being too much of a burden for people. However, people in our study stayed in our study."

Only 10% of participants failed to complete the final evaluations, and patients attended a median of 17 out of 20 scheduled supervised gym sessions.

The researchers emphasized resistance training to combat the loss of lean muscle mass, a major risk associated with rapid weight loss.

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People who lose weight through crash dieting or appetite-suppressing medications may shed muscle along with fat, experts warn. If the weight returns, some research suggests it may come back disproportionately as body fat, potentially affecting muscle health and metabolism over time.

"In our study, we think the diet provoked the weight loss, and exercise helped make sure it was [not] from muscle," Dasgupta said.

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"We were happy and surprised that not only did people lose fat from their organs and liver, our MRI studies indicated their muscle did not decrease at all and their handgrip strength went up."

Participants shed an average of 18.5 pounds over 24 weeks, while significantly boosting their treadmill endurance and overall cardiovascular fitness.

To meet the official standard for remission, patients had to maintain an HbA1c blood sugar level below 6.5% after going at least 12 weeks without any glucose-lowering drugs.

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After accounting for baseline health factors, researchers concluded that patients on the diet and exercise program were 21 times more likely to achieve remission than those receiving routine care.

Despite the promising outcomes, experts emphasized notable limitations. The trial was small, examining fewer than 100 individuals across medical centers in England and Canada over a relatively short six-month window.

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Dasgupta also noted that the study could not determine exactly what was responsible for each benefit.

"The main limitation is that we had to compare the diet plus exercise with usual care," he told Fox News Digital. "We would have liked to compare diet alone against diet and exercise to perfectly prove the point that the improvements in muscle and fitness were from the exercise."

The strict routine also took a physical toll. Roughly 86% of the intervention group reported mild to moderate side effects, primarily during the early weeks, including headaches, fatigue, dizziness and constipation, though researchers noted that no severe medical complications occurred.

Health professionals cautioned that diabetes remission is not a permanent cure, and sustaining an 800-calorie threshold alongside supervised gym can present steep hurdles for busy adults outside a clinical setting.

Study authors noted that longer-term trials in real-world settings are still needed to determine whether patients can keep the weight off, preserve their muscle gains and remain medication-free once regular daily routines resume.

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Your walking speed may hold a clue to how long you’ll live, study suggests

The speed a person normally walks could offer a simple clue about their overall health and longevity, new research suggests.

A study published in JAMA Network Open followed 4,067 adults in the U.K., who were about 69 years old on average, to see whether their usual walking pace was linked to their risk of death over time.

Participants completed a short walking test at their normal pace and also wore a wrist activity tracker for nine days to capture their walking speed during everyday life.

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Over nearly 12 years of follow-up, faster walking in both settings was linked to a lower risk of death, even after researchers accounted for other health and lifestyle factors. A total of 739 participants died during that period.

Beth Templin, a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist and CEO of HouseFit Physical Therapy & Fitness in St. Louis, said walking speed can offer a broader look at how well the body is functioning.

"In physical therapy, we call walking speed the 'sixth vital sign' because it's a snapshot of how well many body systems are working together," Templin, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

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Changes in walking speed can therefore offer clues about a person's health, according to the doctor.

"To walk briskly, you need strong legs, a healthy heart and lungs, good balance, and a brain and nervous system that can coordinate it all," she said.

"When walking speed starts to slip, it's often an early warning sign that one of those systems is declining, sometimes before anything shows up on a lab test," Templin added.

For older adults who want to improve their walking speed and overall fitness, simply taking more steps may not be enough.

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"Build the engine, not just the habit," Templin advised. "Most people try to walk more, but speed comes from strength and balance."

The doctor suggested strengthening the legs with simple exercises, such as standing up from a chair without using the hands and doing heel raises while holding onto a counter.

She also recommended adding short bursts of faster walking. After warming up, a person could walk briskly for one minute, slow down for two minutes and then repeat, gradually increasing the faster periods.

The findings do not mean that simply walking faster will make someone live longer, experts noted.

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"This study shows an association, not proof that walking faster by itself adds years," Templin reiterated.

The participants included in the study were generally healthier than the larger group, the researchers noted. There is also no single standard method for measuring everyday walking pace with wrist activity trackers.

More research is needed to determine whether the findings apply to other groups.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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