A 35-year-old man died after crossing the finishing line of a Halloween half marathon at Disneyland over the weekend, officials said.The Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, Sept. 5-8, occurred as a triple-digit heat wave engulfed the Anaheim area and greater Southern California. The runner, who was identified by the Orange County Coroner’s Office as Bobby Graves, died after the race Sunday. Graves was known by his middle name, Caleb, according to his social media.Graves crossed the finish line at approximately 7 a.m., grasping his chest and subsequently collapsing, Matthew Sutter, a spokesperson for the Anaheim Police Department, told SFGATE. Medics and fire crews attempted to treat Graves at the scene, and he was transported to a local hospital while in full cardiac arrest. After being treated for an hour, Graves was later pronounced dead at the hospital, Sutter said. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Jessica Good, Disneyland Resort spokesperson, told SFGATE.Officials from Disneyland Resort did not answer SFGATE’s additional questions about the heat wave or if they would consider moving the annual race to a cooler time of year.Sunday was a “toasty” day for Anaheim, Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told SFGATE. The lowest temperature was 75 degrees at 6 a.m., and the temperature during the warmest part of the day, around 2 p.m., reached 107 degrees. Temperatures have risen to at least 100 degrees every day since Wednesday, she added.The Anaheim area is under an excessive heat warning, first issued by the weather service on Sept. 4. It expires Sept. 10 at 8 p.m., Oswant said. September to early November are usually the hottest months of the year for the Anaheim area, and extreme temperatures can be dangerous for some individuals sensitive to heat. “Heat is one of the more dangerous weather hazards that occur, and specifically the way heat affects you kind of varies from person to person,” Oswant said. “It is usually recommended to avoid doing strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day and to make sure you’re remaining hydrated.”Sutter said Graves did not have any known existing medical conditions. And according to Graves’ TikTok account, which has more than 19,000 followers, he often ran long-distance races. Graves dedicated his account, @calebgtravels, to creating Disneyland and Disney World vlogs, which show him running several other Disney races in the past. He ran a full marathon at Walt Disney World earlier this year and a half marathon at Disneyland, according to his account. Just a day before Sunday’s race, Graves posted a video saying he had passed out from heat exhaustion after walking his dog outside.“I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning,” he said. His comments are now flooded with hundreds of followers’ condolences. The coroner’s office told SFGATE that Graves’ cause of death has not been determined. In 2019, a runner died after collapsing during a Walt Disney World Wine & Dine race in Florida.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
ANAHEIM, Calif. —
A 35-year-old man died after crossing the finishing line of a Halloween half marathon at Disneyland over the weekend, officials said.
The Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend, Sept. 5-8, occurred as a triple-digit heat wave engulfed the Anaheim area and greater Southern California.
The runner, who was identified by the Orange County Coroner’s Office as Bobby Graves, died after the race Sunday. Graves was known by his middle name, Caleb, according to his social media.
Graves crossed the finish line at approximately 7 a.m., grasping his chest and subsequently collapsing, Matthew Sutter, a spokesperson for the Anaheim Police Department, told SFGATE. Medics and fire crews attempted to treat Graves at the scene, and he was transported to a local hospital while in full cardiac arrest. After being treated for an hour, Graves was later pronounced dead at the hospital, Sutter said.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Jessica Good, Disneyland Resort spokesperson, told SFGATE.
Officials from Disneyland Resort did not answer SFGATE’s additional questions about the heat wave or if they would consider moving the annual race to a cooler time of year.
Sunday was a “toasty” day for Anaheim, Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told SFGATE. The lowest temperature was 75 degrees at 6 a.m., and the temperature during the warmest part of the day, around 2 p.m., reached 107 degrees.
Temperatures have risen to at least 100 degrees every day since Wednesday, she added.
The Anaheim area is under an excessive heat warning, first issued by the weather service on Sept. 4. It expires Sept. 10 at 8 p.m., Oswant said. September to early November are usually the hottest months of the year for the Anaheim area, and extreme temperatures can be dangerous for some individuals sensitive to heat.
“Heat is one of the more dangerous weather hazards that occur, and specifically the way heat affects you kind of varies from person to person,” Oswant said. “It is usually recommended to avoid doing strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day and to make sure you’re remaining hydrated.”
Sutter said Graves did not have any known existing medical conditions.
And according to Graves’ TikTok account, which has more than 19,000 followers, he often ran long-distance races.
Graves dedicated his account, @calebgtravels, to creating Disneyland and Disney World vlogs, which show him running several other Disney races in the past. He ran a full marathon at Walt Disney World earlier this year and a half marathon at Disneyland, according to his account.
Just a day before Sunday’s race, Graves posted a video saying he had passed out from heat exhaustion after walking his dog outside.
“I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning,” he said. His comments are now flooded with hundreds of followers’ condolences.
The coroner’s office told SFGATE that Graves’ cause of death has not been determined.
In 2019, a runner died after collapsing during a Walt Disney World Wine & Dine race in Florida.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
