After finishing a half-marathon at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, amid a heatwave, a runner who was 35 years old collapsed and died on Sunday. This occurred only one day after the runner expressed his anxiety about the blistering temperatures in a video that was uploaded to TikTok.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bobby Graves, who was known by the name Caleb on his popular TikTok page, gripped his chest as he crossed the finish line of the Disneyland Halloween half-marathon at approximately seven in the morning. A race volunteer then caught him as he fell.
According to Sergeant Matt Sutter of the Anaheim Police Department, members of the fire and rescue departments administered life-saving efforts and brought Graves to the hospital. Unfortunately, after approximately one hour of treatment, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. However, they continued to work on him.
Graves had previously voiced his concerns regarding the temperature of the environment prior to participating in the event, which was conducted during a period of tremendous heatwave that was sweeping through California.
In a video that he uploaded to his TikTok account on Saturday, he expressed his concern by saying, “The Disneyland half-marathon, also known as the Halloween half-marathon, is tomorrow, and I’m a little bit worried today.”
This afternoon, at approximately two o’clock, which is typically the hottest portion of the day, I went outdoors, and the temperature was somewhere in the nineties.
“I have some susceptibility; I don’t know if it’s temporary or long-term, to heat,” Graves said at another point in the video, which he shared with his 18,000 followers.
Because I had been outside for about twenty minutes, walking my dog, and even though it was hot, I did not feel any discomfort. Then, perhaps ten minutes after I had returned to the building, I suddenly passed out.
Prior to the beginning of the competition, Graves cautioned the players to remain cautious and reminded them, “Remember that it will certainly be hot!
As Graves said in the caption, “Remember to drink plenty of water and pay attention to your body.” I wish all of the racers the best of luck!
A representative of Disneyland Resort informed KTLA that the company was “deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Police in Anaheim stated that they were not aware of any other injuries that occurred during the race. Additionally, they mentioned that the event took place early in the morning, avoiding “the full heat of the day,” as People magazine had reported. On Sunday, temperatures in Anaheim fluctuated from 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) to a high of 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), although it was not immediately obvious what the exact temperature was throughout the race.
This year, dozens of people have been wounded during outdoor events in the United States due to adverse temperatures. In August, a Colorado airshow provided medical attention to over one hundred individuals who were suffering from heat-related illnesses.
At a music festival held in Ocala, Florida, in the month of June, scores of people were sent to the hospital, and approximately 450 people were treated on the premises for a range of ailments, including symptoms connected to heat.
As the United States of America struggled to cope with the scorching temperatures that occurred this summer, numerous authorities have referred to heat-related illnesses as the most serious weather-related public health danger.
According to the data, a significant number of people living in the United States are able to recognise the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses; nevertheless, only a small percentage of them are aware of the locations of nearby cooling centres that could provide life-saving relief from heat.