A student runner has died aged 20 after collapsing during a half marathon and reportedly being resuscitated three times.
Juliana Ávila Saouda suffered a medical emergency while taking part in the Medellín Marathon in Colombia on 6 September.
The biomedical engineering student was running the event’s 13-mile (21km) half marathon when she collapsed.
READ MORE: Charred body of dancer, 21, found on beach after vanishing on night out
Medellín mayor Federico Gutiérrez said Juliana suffered three cardiac arrests and was resuscitated three times.
She was rushed to Hospital General de Medellín but tragically died at around 6:30pm the following day, as reported by Need To Know.
More than 30,000 people took part in the event.
Juliana graduated from the Anglo Colombian School in 2024 before becoming a biomedical engineering student at the University of the Andes in Bogotá.
She was also studying financial administration as part of her degree.
The keen runner had previously completed the Allianz 15K in Bogotá and the Women’s Race in Madrid.
Mr Gutiérrez said he knew Juliana and had been in contact with her family following her collapse.
He said: “Juliana, 20 years old, had three cardiac arrests.
“I was in contact with her family, praying for her.
“It was a very complex situation.”
He later added: “It saddens me greatly that in such a beautiful event she had a serious health problem: three heart attacks and three resuscitations.
“She was well treated at the General Hospital.
“Sadly she is no longer with us.”
Juliana was the girlfriend of Julián Restrepo Céspedes, the eldest son of Vice-President José Manuel Restrepo.
President Abelardo de la Espriella said: “I support with deep sorrow the family of Juliana Ávila, our vice-president, his son Julián and all their loved ones in this painful and unexpected departure.
“Saying goodbye to a young woman full of life and dreams deeply moves the soul of the nation.”
Medellín city council also held a minute’s silence in Juliana’s memory.
A second runner, described as a middle-aged man with epilepsy, reportedly suffered a seizure during the event and was stabilised.
No official forensic cause of Juliana’s death has yet been released.
Her death was reportedly the fourth associated with the city’s 21km race in eight years.
READ MORE: Five killed as Flying Doctor helicopter catches fire and crashes near remote airstrip
