LANGKAWI: A runner in the Langkawi International Half Marathon (LIHM) 2022 collapsed as he was approaching the finish line this morning.
He later died en route to the hospital.
Nik Mohd Faiz Nik Mohd Azmi, 37, was a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia's Veterinary Clinical Studies Department.
Langkawi district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Shariman Ashari, said Nik Mohd Faiz, who was running in the event, was approaching the finish line when he suddenly collapsed.
Civil Defence Force and medical personnel rushed to his aid.
"He was given first aid, including CPR, before being taken via ambulance to the Sultanah Maliha Hospital (HSM)," he said in a statement.
Nik Mohd Aziz, however, was pronounced dead at 10.30am while he wan en route to the hospital.
Police later informed his wife of the incident.
A Covid-19 test on him turned out negative. His remains were later taken to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star for a post-mortem.
Shariman said the case has been classified as sudden death.
This marked the second time in two months that a runner had died after participating in a marathon.
On Nov 16, Abdul Rahman Kifli, 47, died three days after he collapsed while participating in the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSM) 2022.
He collapsed at the event without regaining consciousness and was placed on life support. He died in hospital three days later.
