Heat strokes at marathons: Runners sick in Amersfoort, Utrecht, Houten; two reanimated
High temperatures on Sunday caused widespread medical emergencies during multiple marathon events across the Netherlands, including Amersfoort, Utrecht, Groningen, and Houten, with at least two participants requiring resuscitation.
In Houten, during the marathon, one participant who became unwell had to be resuscitated. A trauma helicopter landed near the course to assist medical teams, and the race was briefly halted. The individual was transported urgently to the hospital.
In Amersfoort and Utrecht, the situation also turned critical. In Amersfoort, according to bystanders, a runner collapsed just before the finish line at Eemplein. That person also required resuscitation. Multiple ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
In Groningen, the surge in cases of heat-related illnesses led ambulance services to reach their “maximum ambulance capacity,” prompting an escalation in response so that emergency services could be dispatched from a wider surrounding region.
Gert van Goolen, spokesperson for Golazo, the organizer of the Groningen marathon, said seven participants with heat-related symptoms reported to the first aid station during the half marathon. Two were transported to the hospital, while the remaining five were able to return home without further medical treatment. “The other five were able to go home calmly,” he said.
Van Goolen added that in Groningen’s full marathon, it was still unclear how many participants were affected. “How many people there have suffered a heat stroke is not yet known to me, but that there are a number of people dropping out due to the heat is not strange at all with temperatures above 20 degrees,” he said. “This is not abnormal.”
Most of the medical incidents in Groningen occurred during the final 1.2 miles of the race. Some participants criticized the organization, claiming there were too few water stations along the route. The organizers rejected that criticism. "Every few kilometers, there are water stations. We had extra supplies and there were no shortages anywhere,” Van Goolen said. “But some people also skip the water stations.”
The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) reported it was prepared for increased pressure on emergency services. A spokesperson said that just before 2:00 p.m., two overheated individuals were admitted to the emergency department. “It is now the warmest point of the day; we are prepared and can scale up if necessary,” the spokesperson told AD.
