A runner competing in a half marathon at Walt Disney World in Florida died after collapsing near the finish line, park officials said.
The runner, who was not identified, nearly finished the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in Lake Buena Vista on Sunday when he suddenly collapsed and died, a spokeswoman for Walt Disney World told the Orlando Sentinel.
“We offer our sincerest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the runner during this difficult time,” spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler told the newspaper.
No other details about the runner’s death were released. Messages seeking additional comment from Disney officials were not immediately returned Monday.
Now in its eighth year, the 13.1-mile race drew about 15,000 competitors who started running in the Magic Kingdom’s parking lot before finishing at Epcot, the Sentinel reports.
A website for the race bills it as a “breathtaking morning run capped by a spectacular evening” of food and wine. The event is part of Disney’s themed weekends at resorts in Florida, California and Paris, where runners can participate in races and meet Disney characters along the way.