Weather Conditions Turned Already Dangerous Marathon Deadly

On Saturday in New York City, at least one runner died, and 15 were hospitalized during the RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon, which took place amid the early stages of what turned out to be a record-breaking heat wave that touched most of the Northeast, including the New York metro region.

Brooklyn Bridge, NY, USA Florian Schneider on Unsplash

Initial Report

According to The New York City Fire Department, four hospitalized were in critical but non-life-threatening conditions. At the same time, the rest had minor injuries, according to The New York Times.

Although it was unclear if the heat and excessive humidity played a part in the injuries or death as of Monday, the circumstances were harsh enough to put runners' health at risk.

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Prior Warnings

The event organizers advised competitors that the days preceding the marathon would be hot. The New York Road Runners warned on Twitter three days before the race that the potential of heat-related medical difficulties would grow as the expected temperature and humidity climbed on race day.

An Unfortunate Casualty

US-WEATHER-HEAT — Children play in a riverside fountain at a park before the Manhattan city skyline, in Brooklyn, New York on August 12, 2021. - More than 150 million people across the United States were under some form of heat alert on August 12, 2021 with baking temperatures expected in the Pacific Northwest, parts of the Plains and the South, and much the Northeast. Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images

David Reichman, 32, crossed the finish line and slumped on the boardwalk after racing the 13.1-mile marathon. About two hours after the race began, the incident occurred soon before 9 a.m. According to a spokesman for the New York Road Runners, medical personnel stationed at the finish line came to his aid when Reichman fell. Reichman was brought to Coney Island Hospital and declared dead there.

According to the New York Post, Reichman's cause of death will be determined by the New York City Medical Examiner's office and if the heat played a factor in his death.

Reichman founded the mental health and psychotherapy firm Field Trip Health, according to the Post. After graduating from Concordia University, the 32-year-old attended the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Before coming to Manhattan in March, Reichman lived in Flatbush, New York.

At 7 a.m., the half marathon began. On Saturday morning, the temperature was 63 degrees Fahrenheit with 97 percent humidity, producing an AccuWeather RealFeel® of 66. For the start of the race, foggy and hazy conditions were observed in adjacent downtown Manhattan.

The temperature and humidity were mostly stable when Reichman fainted just before 9 a.m., at 64 degrees Fahrenheit and 96 percent humidity, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® of 69. Following the marathon, temperatures surged to 90 degrees at about 6 p.m., marking the city's first 90-degree reading of the year - and the first time the official high temperature in Central Park has surpassed 90 since Aug. 27, 2021, when it hit 93.

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A Long-Postponed Event

Due to coronavirus-related cancellations in 2020 and 2021, this was the first year the RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon was run since 2019. The race started at the Brooklyn Museum and concluded on the boardwalk at Coney Island.