Two runners have died after collapsing during the gruelling Comrades Marathon on Sunday. The news of a second runner that passed away follows yesterday morning’s report of Mzambo Mthembu, who died in hospital after collapsing during the race.

“Phakamile ‘Phaks’ Tshiza of Adventist Athletics Club in Gauteng collapsed near Drummond and later died,” confirmed the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Amanda Bani-Mapena.

The Witness reported that Tshiza died from a heart attack before the halfway point of the 90km marathon. Medical staff on a motorbike responded within two minutes of receiving the alert, but failed to revive him.

Bani-Mapena said she joins thousands of sports-loving South Africans in paying tribute to both Tshiza and Mzamo Mthembu, who collapsed near Pinetown and died a few hours later.

“I have no words. Just when we are celebrating the return of this magnificent race, tragedy also hits. While we all understand the health and physical risks associated with a race of such magnitude, we never anticipated that we would lose the lives of athletes.

“Our heartfelt condolences go to their beloved families, friends, teammates and their clubs. They died doing what they loved most which was running,” said Bani-Mapena.

Bani-Mapena said she understands that there are two other runners in critical condition in hospital and said that she and her department are praying for their speedy recovery.

According to The Witness Charne Bosman collapsed at 45th Cutting. Her club, Murray and Roberts said yesterday that she was still in hospital for observation.

A second runner, whose name has not been released, was admitted to a hospital in Durban during the race.  Comrades’ chief medical officer, Dr. Jeremy Boulter, told the newspaper that the runner is ‘in a serious condition’.