Callum Hawkins Collapses From Heat Exhaustion In Commonwealth Games Marathon As Spectators and Officials Stand Idly By
by LetsRun.com
April 15, 2018
Scottish marathoner Callum Hawkins, who was 9th at the Rio Olympics and 4th at the World Champs last summer, was looking to win the Commonwealth Games marathon this morning. He had broken the field and had a large lead when this happened near the 40k mark.
Distressing & upsetting moment Callum Hawkins collapses in the #CommonwealthGames2018 men’s #marathon & the shocking 15min delay before he is taken away by medics. Disgraceful! See the full video here: https://t.co/QO6a1q9fJP #CallumHawkins #MensMarathon #CommonwealthGames pic.twitter.com/2ws7zqePh0
— Ickle Misty (@UnlovableT) April 15, 2018
Absolutely ruthless in the marathon…leader Callum Hawkins collapses in real trouble and Mike Shelley waltzes past without a second glance… pic.twitter.com/TuDwLCYOwv
— Martin Hardy (@mhardysport) April 15, 2018
#GC2018 witnesses arguably its most gripping and distressing moment when Scotland's Callum Hawkins collapsed while leading the men's marathon 2 kilometres from the finish line https://t.co/GZJoVsG8eQ pic.twitter.com/vyUN3uR9sq
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) April 15, 2018
Struggling with heat exhaustion, Hawkins eventually collapsed in a heap but only after a worldwide TV audience saw some of the most distressing video we’ve ever seen of visible athletics struggle. Over the span of several minutes, Hawkins went from struggling to run a straight line to repeatedly running off the course and bumping into barriers and even a spectator before finally going down for good at the 2:07:13 mark. Australia’s Michael Shelley ended up coming by two minutes later and repeating as Commonwealth Games champion (recap here: Australian runs to legend status as Scot collapses with 2km to go).
Many are outraged that it took so long for official medical help to arrive and that the spectators didn’t help (one even pushed him back onto the course and others simply stood there and took pictures of a collapsed Hawkins), but it could be that many were worried that if they did help, Hawkins would be DQ’d.
The people staring and taking pictures of Callum Hawkins on the floor, clearly struggling in the men's marathon is disgusting. Where the HELL are the medics? Absolutely disgraceful I am outraged. Needs to be investigated #CommonwealthGames2018
— Eleni (@elenimacx) April 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/RunPlayTakeaway/status/985339624242458626
https://twitter.com/notaerosmith/status/985318790123618305
The good news is Hawkins seems to be doing ok from a medical standpoint.
CALLUM HAWKINS UPDATE: We are very pleased to report that Callum is sitting up and speaking with his Dad and Team Scotland medical staff. He is undergoing further tests as a precaution and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
END— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) April 15, 2018
CALLUM HAWKINS UPDATE:Callum has been taken to hospital for medical review following his collapse in the Marathon as is standard procedure. He is being supported by Team Scotland medical staff & there are no major concerns at this stage.More information to be issued in due course
— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) April 15, 2018
Talk about this dramatic race on the messageboard. MB: Is Callum Hawkins going to win his first marathon at the CW games?
*MB: WTF Comm Games Marathon Madness