According to Sport24, 47-year-old Phakamile Ntshiza, a member of the Adventist Athletic Club, fainted soon before reaching Drummond, the halfway mark of the Comrades marathon, and was pronounced dead when medical assistance arrived.
Mzamo Mthembu, a member of the Hollywoodbets Athletics Club, tragically collapsed during the 95th running of the ultramarathon in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. It was previously confirmed that Mthembu, a runner for the Comrades Marathon and a member of the Hollywoodbets Athletics Club, had died while competing in the race.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Hollywoodbets Athletics Club runner Mzamo Mthembu, from the Toti branch, who was participating in yesterday’s Comrades Marathon,” read a statement.
Mthembu experienced issues throughout the course of the marathon and fell near Pinetown. He was transported to Life Westville Hospital, where he passed away.
Sport24 was informed by Comrades race director Rowyn James of both deaths.
James stated that Ntshiza was pronounced dead when the Netcare crew got at the spot. “The chairman of the Comrades Marathon Association has contacted both families.”
“Companions are a family. Since the race’s inception over a century ago, over 400 000 people have participated, and we are all related. Two fatalities are too many, and our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the deceased runners.”
James noted that 74 runners were transferred to hospitals before Comrades’ medical facilities closed at 20:00 on Sunday night.
Two patients remain in the ICU, and one is still on a ventilator.
DURING THIS YEAR’S COMRADES, THERE WERE MANY CONVERSATION POINTS.
Russian Alexandra Morozova won the women’s ‘down’ run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on Sunday.
A last-minute request to the Pietermaritzburg High Court granted her permission to compete in the event.
Tete Dijana, a South African who works as a security guard at North West University, won the men’s race.