A pair of members in final Saturday’s Salina Crossroads Marathon in Kansas are being credited with saving the lifetime of a fellow runner who collapsed on the course.
KWCH Information in Wichita, Kan., studies Kentucky resident Brian Rice—who was competing within the race costumed as a guard from Squid Sport, the favored South Korean tv survival drama—suffered a medical emergency and misplaced consciousness.
In keeping with the TV station, two fellow marathoners, who’re nurses, noticed Rice in misery and administered CPR till paramedics might arrive.
Rice was taken to hospital, the place he underwent surgical procedure that included having a pacemaker implanted. The stricken runner, interviewed after the process, stated he remembered beginning the race, however not a lot else earlier than waking up in his hospital mattress.
In a Fb publish this week, the marathon organizers shared a photograph of Rice recovering in hospital. “We now have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of assist and concern by the Salina Crossroads neighborhood for one our fellow runners who required medical care at Saturday’s race,” the organizers wrote.
The publish additionally included an replace from Rice’s spouse, Leah Rice, who left the couple’s residence in Kentucky to be at her husband’s aspect when she came upon he had collapsed in the course of the race.
“Thanks to everybody to your assist, prayers, and effectively needs throughout this tough time,” the publish reads. “I’ve been overwhelmed with love from Salina from everybody calling me, the Salina Police and EMS giving me updates, the Salina Regional Well being Middle workers conserving me within the loop and serving to set it up in order that I can keep on the home right here on campus whereas ready for Brian to get higher. He’s doing a lot better immediately and we must always get extra solutions tomorrow.”
24-year-old runner ‘grateful to be alive’ after collapsing on observe
Though Rice himself doesn’t bear in mind a lot of the race, his good humour made a robust impression on his fellow runners, in line with race organizers, who famous he “had some runners laughing alongside the course with enjoyable jokes, and continued that humorousness to the hospital mattress.”
Rice, who’s working towards finishing a marathon in all 50 U.S. states, informed KWCH Information he received’t let his latest medical emergency derail his dream. “I imply, don’t surrender. … That’s my takeaway from this,” he stated.