Cape Town – The Hollywoodbets Athletics Club has reportedly confirmed the death of South African athlete Mzamo Mthembu, from the Toti branch in KwaZulu Natal, who was taking part in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday.
“It is with a heavy heart (that we) announce the passing of Hollywoodbets Athletics Club athlete Mzamo Mthembu, from the Toti branch, who was doing the Comrades Marathon yesterday (Sunday). He had complications along the route and collapsed in Pinetown and was taken to Westville Hospital where he sadly passed away,” the club said, according to IOL.
RIP Mzamo Mthembu ?
“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, he had complications along the route and#ComradesMarathon2022 #ComradesMarathon pic.twitter.com/Ok4Pgvx5Wu
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) August 29, 2022
The report said that a second runner was recovering in hospital.
Netcare 911 said on its Facebook page that the Netcare 7, a specialised helicopter ambulance, “was activated to the M13 for a critically ill runner”.
At least 15 000 people took part in the race, with an average completion time of 10 hours and 18 minutes, AFP reported.
The Comrades ultra marathon was first run in 1921 and is staged annually between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province.
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Picture: Twitter/@NokbongaChamane
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
