A man who fainted was shirtless, lying flat on his back in the grass.
At around 8 a.m. on the 2nd, a large number of running enthusiasts ignored the scorching heat to participate in a 10,000-meter race at the Olympic Forest Park in Chaoyang District. However, within an hour, several people fainted one after another, two of whom were taken to hospital for treatment. Witnesses said the race was organized by Decathlon sports goods supermarket, and there was absolutely no medical support at the scene.
In response, the organizers explained that the event was free of charge and they had fulfilled their duty to provide pre-race warnings.
Tip-off
Two men and one woman fainted during the race
According to witnesses, at around 8 a.m. on the 2nd, fifty to sixty men and women dressed in sportswear gathered at the south gate of the Olympic Forest Park. Ten minutes later, after everyone had assembled, the 10-kilometer running race began.
“It was over 30 degrees Celsius, and there wasn’t a single accompanying doctor on site,” the witness said. About half an hour after the start of the race, two male participants and one female participant successively showed signs of discomfort and fainted to the ground. Faced with the situation, the organizers and the companions of the patients, lacking any medication, had no choice but to carry them to a shaded area and call 120 for help.
According to photos from the scene posted online, a man who had fainted was shirtless, lying flat on his back in the grass. Nearby, 120 personnel were bringing over a stretcher.
According to emergency personnel, on-site diagnosis found that the two men were suffering from severe heatstroke. After giving them basic treatment, doctors transferred them to the PLA 306 Hospital for further treatment.
Response
Organizers claim they were just the coordinators
Regarding the lack of safety measures, staff from the event organizer, Decathlon Sports Goods Supermarket (Gongyixiqiao branch), explained that the long-distance running activity has been held for several years, taking place weekly with a typical duration of just over an hour. The store, acting as the coordinator, simply gathered the enthusiasts together and provided them with an opportunity to compete.
“Normally they run more than 10,000 meters. Those who fainted today did so because they pushed too hard during the final sprint,” the staff member said. The race is voluntarily participated in by enthusiasts and does not require any fees. Indeed, there were no medical personnel on-site. However, before the run, they do fulfill their duty to remind participants to know their limits. Anyone feeling unwell can drop out midway.