Runner dies near finish line at Leeuwarden running event; Entire event canceled
The annual LOOP Leeuwarden was abruptly canceled Sunday after a runner collapsed just meters from the finish line and later died, according to the event's organizers. The incident, along with multiple other medical emergencies, led to the shutdown of the entire race due to safety concerns, Omrop Fryslân reports.
The man, whose identity has not been released, became unwell approximately 75 meters before the finish. Emergency services responded immediately. A trauma helicopter landed at the nearby Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden (HCL), while police, paramedics, and firefighters gathered on the Groeneweg, where the man lay. Firefighters placed screens around the area to block public view during the rescue effort. The organization later confirmed his death.
It was a warm day across Fryslân, and participants along the route were already being cooled with sponges and ice. Medical stations struggled to cope with the growing number of runners falling ill. According to race officials, the first aid staff was "overwhelmed" by the volume of medical incidents reported throughout the event.
The 5-kilometer race, scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m., was initially postponed due to the strain on medical services. The 10-kilometer event faced the same delay minutes later. Not long after, organizers announced that the entire LOOP Leeuwarden was canceled.
Screens at Oldehoofsterkerkhof displayed messages informing participants that the race was called off. The public was also urged to leave the square for safety reasons. More than 10,000 people had registered to take part in this year’s edition of the popular sporting event.
