Runner ‘dies for 90 minutes’ mid-marathon however miraculously introduced again to life
A teenage runner ‘died for 90 minutes’ during a mountain marathon after they got lost and went into cardiac arrest in freezing conditions before being brought back to life
A teen runner “died for 90 minutes” during a marathon but was miraculously brought back to life.
Jiri Marzi got lost on a mountain marathon route and went into cardiac arrest for around an hour and half. In freezing conditions, the 18-year-old collapsed on a ridge beside the trail in his soaking wet T-shirt and shorts.
He suffered with hypothermia, which allowed rescuers to resuscitate him without harm after his heart stopped beating for 90 minutes. And was at an altitude of around 6,562ft (2,000m) while he had a critically-low body temperature of 21 degrees Celsius.
Jiri, a pianist and student at a music school in Griante, collapsed during the Lake Como Marathon Trail in northern Italy on 27 September.
He spent six days on a life-support machine, nine days in intensive care, two weeks in hospital, and a month in rehabilitation, as reported by What’s The Jam. Jiri returned to school last week.
He met his rescuers along with several government officials at the Lombardy Building in Milan on Monday. Members of the Search and Rescue team returned the number 7 bib he was wearing the day he collapsed.
Jiri said: “If I’m here, it’s all thanks to them.” He added: “I told myself I wouldn’t make it. I couldn’t even use my phone because my fingers were frozen. I accepted the facts as they were, I never lost heart, and I remained vigilant as much as possible, almost until the very end, I think. Then I don’t remember the last few minutes.
“When I woke up my first memory was my mother asking me something, and I answered her. Then my first question was if they had given me the medal. I can’t understand how it was possible. It was a miracle. And I thank those who helped me.”
Luca Lorini, director of the Emergency and Critical Care Department at the Papa Giovanni Hospital in Bergamo said: “The patient survived thanks in part to his strong physique and young age. But it was crucial that he had people around him who knew what to do and how to do it quickly.
“Every year at Papa Giovanni XXIII, three-day ECMO training courses are held. I want to emphasize the passion of the operators, supported by a truly high level of expertise.”
The teen’s exceptional clinical case will be the subject of a conference at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo on 10 January next year.
