Bloomsday runner dies after collapse

A Bloomsday runner from Billings died Sunday at a hospital after being taken from the course in an ambulance.

Witnesses say a man who appeared to be between 35 and 40 was running with his wife and collapsed about 11:15 a.m.

“He just kind of stopped and went stiff and fell over,” said Ruth McKee, who was sitting nearby and saw other runners catch him.

Paramedics treated him for an apparent cardiac event, said Spokane Deputy Police Chief Al Odenthal, who is also the president of the Bloomsday Association.

In the meantime, hundreds of runners streamed around two ambulances, which blocked off much of Broadway near North Cochran Street before the man was taken to the hospital.

The man, whose name was not known by race officials Sunday, died at the hospital, Odenthal said.

Race officials said they believe he is the third runner to have died in Bloomsday’s 30-year history.