Runner, 24, sent heartbreaking final texts to dad during New York Marathon before tragedy

Runner, 24, sent heartbreaking final texts to dad during New York Marathon before tragedy There was a tragedy at the New York City marathon after a young woman passed away as she was entering the final miles of the event A heartbroken father whose 24-year-old daughter died at the New York City Marathon has revealed their final text messages. On November 2, Rachel Apa passed away after experiencing a medical episode in the final miles of the race. While she was running her first-ever marathon, Apa was a former Division 1 field hockey player for Bucknell University, who had always been physically active. Throughout the race, her father, Steve Apa, kept in touch with her by text messaging, while also following her location on the marathon tracking app. They exchanged messages at miles 9, 14 and 20. But after messaging her at mile 21, 22, 23 and 24 and not receiving a response, Steve began fearing the worst. He and his wife Michelle then checked the app again to find Rachel's location had stopped moving. Make sure you don't miss sport's biggest stories and breaking news by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources Steve tried to text her again to say Michelle was walking to mile 24 to find her. After they arrived at their daughter's last location, an emergency medical services worker confirmed an ambulance had taken her to hospital. It was then confirmed by marathon organisers New York Road Runners that Rachel had experienced a medical episode, which prompted a bystander to administer CPR before emergency services arrived and used a defibrillator. Doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital fought to save her life for six hours but were unable to do so. Her heartbroken father detailed her last text messages to NBC News. Detailing their last interactions, Steve said Rachel had told him she was "so excited" at the start of the race, before texting him "I feel amazing" and "I've never felt this good" at the nine-mile mark, which she believed was down to the carbohydrates she consumed before the race. He then reminded her: "Great, don't overdo it. First marathon. This is a learning run. Don't overdo it." After she passed the 14th mile, Rachel replied "Ugh" to which he responded: "You beat the 18". She then texted "Ow, ow" prompting him to say "go easy". At mile 20, she wrote "Ow, ow" again in a message, which turned out to be her final text to her father. Steve told the New York Times that doctors had informed him a rare condition called rhabdomyolysis - a rare condition which results in damaged muscle tissue breaking down and releasing harmful substances into the bloodstream - had been the cause of her episode. This is yet to be officially confirmed, as a spokesperson for the New York City medical examiner's office told the Athletic an investigation was still ongoing, with no cause of death being determined. Steve remains in shock about her "unfathomable" death in New York. Speaking to NBC, he said: “She was always on the go, always go, and it doesn’t matter if it’s school or sports or whatever it is. She was go."