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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:17 p.m., Monday, February 16, 2009

Apparent heart attack victim is Great Aloha Run's first fatality

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man who participated in this morning's Great Aloha Run died of an apparent heart attack in the Aloha Stadium parking lot following the event, police and race organizers said.

Race director Carol Jaxon said it was the first death in the history of the Great Aloha Run, which was observing its 25th anniversary today.

Honolulu Marathon officials said they believe three people have died in the 36-year history of the marathon.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was found in area 2-A of the parking lot.

He was seen by a medical spotter from Kaiser Permanente's sports medicine staff sitting slumped and unconscious near a women's restroom between where volunteers pass out water and food and another table where T-shirts are handed out to finishers.

"There were many people standing around when our medical spotter noticed a problem," Jaxson said.

"It's an unfortunate incident."

The female spotter began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. A bystander who teaches CPR then took over until Kaiser doctors could respond.

Police have tentatively classified the case as an "unattended death," meaning the man was not under a physician's care at the time he died. It will be referred to the department's homicide detail, as are all unattended death cases.

In addition, a runner who competed in the elite women's group passed out following the race and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

Her condition was not immediately available, but she was described as "responsive" prior to being taken to the hospital.

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.