At Least 19 Runners Hospitalized with 'Mystery Illness' During Half-Marathon
Police are investigating whether heat or another factor caused the illnesses, and Cottage Health said 19 patients arrived with similar symptoms.
- On Sunday, 19 participants in the Santa Barbara Half Marathon were hospitalized with 'unusual symptoms' following the race. The Santa Barbara Police Department launched an investigation into the circumstances affecting competitors during the 13.1-mile event.
- Race organizers attributed the illnesses to heat exhaustion, noting temperatures reached 86 degrees during the event. However, Cottage Health officials reported a 'larger than expected number of emergency visits' with symptoms remaining of undetermined cause.
- Emergency crews transported 12 people to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and three to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, while four runners self-transported. Santa Barbara City Fire Department Battalion Chief Cory Cloud provided these transport breakdowns.
- Authorities are investigating 'suspicious circumstances' regarding the medical mystery, though they emphasize the general public faces no specific threat. Police advise anyone with information or symptoms to contact Sergeant Andre Miller at 805-897-2330.
- Unconfirmed rumors regarding contaminated hydration stations circulated on social media, but officials have not verified any specific cause. The investigation remains active as medical staff and police work to determine whether heat or other factors were responsible.
125 Articles
125 Articles
After a half marathon in Santa Barbara, the police started investigations. 25 participants had to go to the hospital for "unusual" symptoms.
Law enforcement authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the causes of mass poisoning or overheating.
Ketamine Poisoning Suspected as Multiple Runners Hospitalized at California Race
What began as a routine Sunday morning race in Santa Barbara quickly turned into a medical mystery. More than two dozen participants from the city’s annual half-marathon required medical attention, prompting police to investigate unusual symptoms and triggering speculation about possible drink contamination. However, the county’s latest findings have offered a different explanation. The Santa […]
Was it the heat or a toxic fluid reservoir that sent the runners to the hospital?
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