Auckland Marathon runners treated in emergency department, not admitted to ward

Auckland Marathon runners cross over the Auckland Harbour Bridge yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Several athletes who were hospitalised during the Auckland Marathon yesterday were treated in the emergency department.

Six competitors were taken to hospital, one person was initially described as being in a critical condition but improved and three others were in a serious condition.

However, an Auckland District Health Board spokeswoman said they were treated in the emergency department but did not need to be admitted to a ward.

Last night the Herald was told all of the competitors were in a stable condition but the health board said it could not comment on their status when contacted this afternoon.

One half-marathon competitor said she saw three people collapse during her run.

"I saw people lying on the ground being helped by medics at three different spots on the track," she said yesterday.

"It looked like one woman had collapsed just past the highest point of the harbour bridge - she was being helped onto a stretcher by St John ambulance staff.

"Another man, who looked quite young, was being stretchered away from the track just 3km from the finish line. He was as white as a ghost."

Another competitor taking part in the 12km traverse said she saw St John ambulance staff attend to a man, a racer, on the ground in Halsey St.

A woman at the start of the traverse fell and scraped her face, the woman said.

One runner competing in his 349th marathon was working against another challenge - doctor's orders.

A spokesperson for Ironman said the safety and welfare of runners is their primary concern in all of their events and the Auckland Marathon is no different.

"While any hospitalisation is one too many, six such hospitalisations is not out of the ordinary, for an endurance event of this nature with in excess of 15,000 participants," they said.

"In 2017 we had seven such transportations for hospital treatment, with approximately 1000 fewer athletes.

"At every event, we follow up with each athlete (and/or family) that has been taken to hospital to offer our support and assistance.

"This process was followed on Sunday and in the time since the event."