A 27-year-old man tragically died of “cardiac issues” while running a half-marathon in Minneapolis on Sunday.
The runner, identified as Blake Groulx by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, collapsed during the home stretch of the City of Lakes Half Marathon and later died.
Groulx lost his footing and hit his head on a curb along the Bde Maka Ska Parkway during the eleventh mile of the race, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
According to local police, fellow racers and, later, first responders administered CPR attempting to revive Groulx at the shocking scene. He was transported to Abbott Northwestern Hospital, where he was later declared dead.
No cause of death has been announced by officials, though, according to Groulx’s obituary, he died of cardiac issues in the homestretch of the fateful race.
A witness told the Star Tribune that she saw Blake stumbling before falling. When he finally collapsed and hit the curb, she immediately ran to his aide and attempted to administer CPR. She wasn’t alone.
Another fellow runner — who happened to be an emergency room doctor — also tried to save Blake, the Star Tribune reported.
“We were trying to give him the best chance of survival. He looked like a fit person, not someone you would think this would happen to,” Dr. Katherine Katzung told the outlet.
In his obituary, Blake was described as someone who led an active lifestyle that included hiking, tennis, running and pickleball.
Race organizers said they were “deeply saddened” by Groulx’s death.
“On a day meant to be a celebration, a family lost a loved one. Our hearts go out to the runner’s family and all those who were close to them,” Run Minnesota wrote on Facebook.
“Run Minnesota and the City of Lakes Half want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the participants on the course who came to the aid of a fellow runner and the first responders and medical professionals who provided medical care,” they added.
“We also send our care to the running community as we grieve this loss together.”
Groulx was a native of Midland, Mich., who moved to Minneapolis in 2020 when starting a new career at General Mills.
He is survived by his mother, father, three siblings and the “love of his life.”
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The tragic event comes just a week before Blake and his partner James would have celebrated their two-year anniversary.
Groulx’s family is asking any donations in his honor be directed to the non-profit “The Bridge for Youth” or the American Heart Association.
They are also encouraging others to get heart health screenings.
His death happened on the heels of a half-marathon runner dying after a race in Anaheim, Calif.
TikToker Bobby Graves — known as Caleb Graves on social media — died after completing Disneyland’s Halloween Half Marathon on Sunday.
Graves, 35, was seen clutching his chest while crossing the finish line and later died of cardiac arrest, according to local police.
He had no known medical conditions at the time of his death, though temperatures in Anaheim had hit a high of 107 degrees.
