Today’s Chicago Marathon which took place in 80 degree weather claimed the life of 35 year old CaptainWilliam Caviness of the Greensboro, NC Fire Department. The Chicago Tribune reports that:

Authorities suspect Caviness suffered cardiac arrest, but the cause of death was pending autopsy results, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Caviness, married with two children under five, was the captain of a fire engine crew for the Greensboro Fire Department, said Dave Coker, the president of the city’s firefighters’ union.

He was running to raise funds for the International Association of Fire FightersBurn Foundation, which coordinates fire prevention efforts and supports burn victims. Before the race, he raised $2,475, well beyond his $2,000 goal, according to the Web site tracking his effort.

Statistics show incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in marathons involves 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 120,000 runners, according to the Chicago Marathon medical director George Chiampas.

“We know where these types of incidents occur,” Chiampas said. “Because of that, we stage a large number of medical personnel in that final half-mile to mile as well as the finish line area. So there were five to six emergency medical physicians as well as EMS response 25 to 30 meters away from this individual. There was a response within seconds.”

The entire article can be found HERE.

Tags: Chicago Marathon, firefighter dies running the Chicago Marathon, Greensboro Fire Department Captain William Caviness