Experienced runner dies after running in Little Rock Marathon
For the first time in its history, the Little Rock marathon ended with a death. 27-year-old Adam Nickel had finished the course when he had to be sent to the hospital. It wasn't the announcement marathon organizers planned on making at the end of Sunday’s races.
"It is with profound sadness that I inform you about the death of marathon runner Adam Nickel," organizer Gina Marchese-Pharis said.
It was Nickel’s 6th marathon. He traveled from Wisconsin to be here. The 27-year-old had just crossed the finish line after running 26 miles in 3 hours. Initially he seemed fine.
"He looked strong coming in to the finish, he had a big smile coming in to the finish," Marchese-Pharis said.
But just moments later, the young, healthy runner collapsed.
"At this point we really have more questions than we do answers," says Dr. Kent Davidson.
On-site medical crews rushed to Nickel's aid. They tried resuscitating him, with no luck.
"We had MEMS and a defibrillator on the scene. We really never had a heart rhythm at all the whole time we were resuscitating him," he said.
Nickels was rushed to UAMS where he died.
"When something that catastrophic occurs, and I'm really speculating now, it indicates there was a congenital heart condition, something out of the ordinary," Davidson said.
For organizers, the death puts a damper on the city's 6th marathon.
"A loss of one of your race participants is terrible. It’s a terrible tragedy,” Marchese-Pharis said.
Organizers say all runners must sign a waiver that says they are in good health or if they aren't they must have a doctor's signature saying its okay for them to run.
