Participants say no medical aid was available.
Stephen Menezes (43), an employee with a telecom company in Mumbai, died of heart attack while attempting a 10-km run in Borivli. The 'Run India Run, – 10K challenge,' was organised by a city-based group.
Menezes, who had participated in marathons organised by Standard Chartered and Vasai Virar local groups, was a seasoned runner for the past five years, said his friends.
At 6 am, he embarked upon the run . "Around 7.30 am-8.00 am, he collapsed near the finishing line after completing the run. There was a delay of about 15 minutes in identifying his condition and taking him to the hospital," said Menezes' friend Lloyd.
Menezes suffered from a heart attack near the finishing line. He was later ferried to the Karuna Hospital in Borivli, where he was declared dead on arrival. His body was later sent for post-mortem to civic-run Bhagwati Hospital in Borivli.
Menezes, a resident of IC Colony in Borivli, was the sole breadwinner of his family. His is survived by his wife, Evona (35), and three daughters – Laurel (16), Audrey (8) and Katriel (6). Menezes' friends said there was no medical aid or ambulance.
"I am really sorry and disappointed to say it was one of the worst running events ever. The water stations were way too far. We faced the worst of the situation when one of us collapsed and there was nothing that could be done. No ambulance or medical aid was in place, which is a basic need for every run. One of our co-runners and a good family friend is no more with us due to the delay in medical help. We had to arrange to ferry him to the hospital ourselves," said Neil Bronel, another friend of Menezes.
While permissions from the roads department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the traffic police have to be obtained for a marathon, there is no rule that prescribes the local health department has to be consulted.
Experts say basic medication like Sorbitrate, a nitro-glycerine tablet that immediately expands blood vessels, should be mandatory in the first-aid kit, and it should be within easy reach of a patient during marathons.
Ambulances equipped with para-medical staff trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and equipment like Atrial Electronic Difibrillator (AED) should also be there.
In Italy, every marathon runner has to submit his/her latest electro cardiogram (ECG) report before attempting the run. In the US, event organisers have to be affiliated with the local Athletic Federation. The federation ensures certain level of quality, checks and balances.
"In India, none of this is followed. Local groups should screen all runners for fitness and cardiac risk profiles before enrolling them. Organisers should keep everything ready so that there is no risk to life. Every organiser should be conscious of the fact that they are playing with the runners' lives," said Venkat Raman, a senior city-based marathoner.
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