Razeen Gutta
Celebrations around the Comrades Marathon have been blunted by the death of a second runner.
Adventist Athletic Club’s Phakamile Ntshiza lost his life on the way to Drummond.
Hollywoodbets Athletics Club’s Mzamo Mthembu passed away in Westville hospital on Sunday after collapsing in Pinetown.
Race director Rowyn James confirmed both deaths and sent his condolences to the bereaved families.
“The chairperson of the Comrades Marathon Association has been in contact with both families. Comrades is a family. We have had over 400,000 people run the race since its inception over 100 years ago, and we are all a family,” James told News24.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of the runners.”
Since the race 74 runners have been admitted to hospital and James confirmed that the race doctor would visit the hospitals to get feedback.
“Our race doctor, as is our normal practice, goes to the various hospitals the day after the race and visits the athletes who were admitted. He’s busy with that now,” he said.
“He’s at the St Augustine’s Hospital and he said he’ll contact the Westville hospital to see what happened.”
The showpiece event made a return this year after a two-year halt due to Covid-19, however the celebrations have halted following the news of the deaths.
Image source: @TheCitizen
