Runners save collapsed marathoner’s life at Kansas race

A pair of participants in last Saturday’s Salina Crossroads Marathon in Kansas are being credited with saving the life of a fellow runner who collapsed on the course.

KWCH News in Wichita, Kan., reports Kentucky resident Brian Rice—who was competing in the race costumed as a guard from Squid Game, the popular South Korean television survival drama—suffered a medical emergency and lost consciousness.

According to the TV station, two fellow marathoners, who are nurses, spotted Rice in distress and administered CPR until paramedics could arrive.

Rice was taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery that included having a pacemaker implanted. The stricken runner, interviewed after the procedure, said he remembered starting the race, but not much else before waking up in his hospital bed.

In a Facebook post this week, the marathon organizers shared a photo of Rice recovering in hospital. “We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and concern by the Salina Crossroads community for one our fellow runners who required medical care at Saturday’s race,” the organizers wrote.

The post also included an update from Rice’s wife, Leah Rice, who left the couple’s home in Kentucky to be at her husband’s side when she found out he had collapsed during the race.

“Thank you to everyone for your help, prayers, and well wishes during this difficult time,” the post reads. “I have been overwhelmed with love from Salina from everyone calling me, the Salina Police and EMS giving me updates, the Salina Regional Health Center staff keeping me in the loop and helping set it up so that I can stay at the house here on campus while waiting for Brian to get better. He is doing much better today and we should get more answers tomorrow.”

24-year-old runner ‘grateful to be alive’ after collapsing on track

Although Rice himself doesn’t remember much of the race, his good humour made a strong impression on his fellow runners, according to race organizers, who noted he “had some runners laughing along the course with fun jokes, and continued that sense of humor to the hospital bed.”

Rice, who is working toward completing a marathon in all 50 U.S. states, told KWCH News he won’t let his recent medical emergency derail his dream. “I mean, don’t give up. … That’s my takeaway from this,” he said.