• The organisers said they will not release the runners’ names until they notify their families.

• Moira Harding was missing after finishing the race, but was found safe hours later near the finish line.
  

More than 22,000 runners took part in the 98th Comrades Marathon on Sunday. But the excitement of the day turned to sadness when two runners died during the race.

The organisers confirmed the deaths but said they would not reveal the names until the families had been informed.

The 85.91-kilometre ultramarathon started in Pietermaritzburg and ended in Durban. Many runners were hopeful as the cool weather made conditions easier.

One of the day’s biggest scares involved Moira Harding. She crossed the finish line at 4:52pm but then disappeared. Her friends and family waited, but she never returned.

Volunteers and members of the public searched through the night. On Monday morning, the Comrades Marathon Association confirmed: “Moira Harding has been found and is alive.”

Moira had been wearing race number M33485 and was last seen near the finish area. The search leader Gords Reid called on people to “please pray for her recovery” as concern grew.

Sadly, this is not the first time tragedy has struck the race. In 2022, Mzamo Mthembu collapsed in Pinetown after suffering a heart attack. He later died at Westville Hospital.

Another runner, Phakamile Ntshiza, died near the halfway mark in Drummond before help could arrive.

Race doctor Jeremy Boulter said details around this year’s second fatality were still unknown.

Despite these tragedies, the Comrades Marathon continues to attract runners from around the world. In 2022, athletes from 72 countries took part after the race returned from a two-year break due to Covid-19.

The marathon was started in 1921 by World War I veteran Vic Clapham to honour South African soldiers who died in the war. That first race had 34 runners. Only 16 finished.

Pictured above: Comrades Marathon announced the death of two runners this year.

Image source: Comrades Marathon