Runner dies at 21km event

MANILA, Philippines – A runner died after reportedly going into cardiac arrest while running a half-marathon during the PSE Bull Run last Sunday in Taguig City.

Romel Defeo, 35, president of Sigue Correr Runners, collapsed at the 17-km mark while running along the route in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Sunday morning.

Some runners, in their comments in the social networking site Facebook, said they saw fellow runners trying to revive Defeo, who was gasping for breath after falling on the pavement.

One of the participants in the running event said he and others runners were surprised with what happened to Defeo.

"Bata pa siya at mukhang malakas pa. Makikita mo naman sa katawan nya (He is still young and strong. You can see it in his physique)," he said, adding that he only knew of the incident when Defeo's colleagues posted the incident on Facebook.

In July 2010, Remus Fuentes, 37, died of multiple organ failure as a result of heatstroke two days after he ran the 21Km distance during the 34th National Milo Marathon eliminations in Manila.