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Update: Autopsy Report In for Marathon Death


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Inconclusive Results

Updated: 3/05/2008 1:47 pm Published: 3/02/2008 12:51 pm

The Pulaski County Coroner has released the autopsy results from marathon runner Adam Nickel, 27.  The preliminary results came back inconclusive. 

The coroner says they are now waiting for toxicology and microscopic reports to come back.  That could take up to five weeks.

 

Experienced runner dies after running in Little Rock Marathon

Little Rock Marathon
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.
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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of FOX16 - Little Rock, AR News and Weather

Todd Meuir - 3/4/2008 11:57 PM
As an entirely experienced/seasoned marathon runner,runner,et.al...I can attest that to run 26 miles nonstop in but mere few hours is not the normal capacity for most humans since it really is an incredible feat that exacts an incredible toll on your body and requires of your body an intoto purity free from any and all chemical agents/drugs whether one calls drugs crystal meth or so called performance drugs they are all but simple and useless contagions to your body. It is sad to see this happen to an obviously good person that loved to run and my prayers are with his family.
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