Toronto man who collapsed running Hamilton Marathon recovering

A Toronto runner who collapsed at the Hamilton Road2Hope Marathon is conscious and recovering in hospital. Race officials simply identified the man as  “Ted,” say he collapsed near the finish line on Sunday. He is awake and eating in hospital, according to a Tweet by the race.

The man collapsed in Hamilton, Ont.’s Confederation Park after going into cardiac arrest before the finish while running the race on Sunday. Paramedics were called shortly after 10 a.m. when the man was believed to have no vital signs. The paramedics found he had a pulse but was not breathing. They resuscitated the man and he has been in hospital since Sunday.

HAPPY! The runner who collapsed near the finish line @HMRoad2Hope is awake, talking, eating and recovering. Thanks to all who helped!

— Road2Hope Marathon (@HMRoad2Hope) November 6, 2013

“A lot of people went to this man’s aid very quickly,” Marc Tremblay, a spokesman with the Hamilton Paramedic Service, told the CBC. “It’s always good to see citizens come forward and help somebody in need.”

Ted a is a 57-year-old and was from Toronto. He collapsed shortly before reaching the finish, right behind the medical tent.

“It has been reported to us that he is recovering in hospital – awake, talking and eating,” said Arlene Wells, administrative assistant for the event, in an email. “He and his family are extremely grateful for the runners who stopped to help and the immediate, great response and skill of our medical personnel on site.”

It is unclear whether Ted was running the half- or the full marathon.