Former Springbok lock Piet Botha has passed away. Photo: Archives
RIP: Second death confirmed during Comrades
The famous Comrades Marathon has been tainted by reports of a second runner having died while participating in Sunday’s down-run.
Former Springbok lock Piet Botha has passed away. Photo: Archives
According to Sport24, 47-year-old Phakamile Ntshiza, who ran for the Adventist Athletic Club, collapsed shortly before reaching Drummond – the Comrades marathon’s halfway point – and was later declared dead when medical attention arrived on the scene.
It was already confirmed that another Comrades Marathon runner, Hollywoodbets Athletics Club member Mzamo Mthembu, had died while running the race in KwaZulu-Natal, having also tragically collapsed during the 95th edition of the ultramarathon on Sunday.
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“It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of Hollywoodbets Athletics Club athlete Mzamo Mthembu, from the Toti branch, who was doing Comrades Marathon yesterday,” a statement read.
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Mthembu had complications along the marathon route and collapsed in Pinetown. He was taken to Life Westville Hospital where he died.
Comrades race director Rowyn James confirmed both deaths to Sport24.
“When our Netcare team had arrived at the scene, the athlete was declared dead,” James said of Ntshiza’s death. “The chairperson of the Comrades Marathon Association has been in contact with both families.
“Comrades is a family. We have had over 400 000 people run the race since its inception over 100 years ago, and we are all family. Two deaths are two too many, and our thoughts and condolences are with the families of the runners who lost their lives.”
James added that a total of 74 runners had been transported to hospital by the time Comrades shut its medical facilities at 20:00 on Sunday night.
Two remain in ICU, while another is still on a ventilator.
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Sunday’s women’s ‘down’ run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban was won by Russian Alexandra Morozova.
She was only allowed to join the race at the last minute after an urgent application at the Pietermaritzburg High Court gave her the green light to participate.
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The men’s race was won by South Africa’s Tete Dijana who works as a security guard at North West University.
