Over 400 Hong Kong Marathon runners injured, one in critical condition

24-10-2021 14:27 HKT

More than 400 runners were injured in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday, with 10 sent to hospitals and one in critical condition.

More than 38,000 people registered to join a 42-kilometer full marathon, 21km half-marathon or 10km races on Sunday morning. A total of 15,659 people turned up, the race's organizer said.

As of 9pm Sunday, 22 men and a woman were sent to six hospitals. They were aged between 20 and 87, Hospital Authority said.

Among them, one was in critical condition and was sent to the Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai. Ten were stable and 12 have been discharged.

This year's 10-kilometer race saw its starting point moved to the Western Harbour Crossing toll plaza, instead of the 2019 race's starting point at the Island Eastern Corridor near Fortress Hill.

The starting point of the 42km full and 21km half-marathon was on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, the same as 2019. All three races ended at Victoria Park.

Upon finishing the race, a runner felt unwell and had to be carried to the first aid station on a stretcher.

A man suspected to have cramps fell to the ground, and a woman vomited on the roadside.

Causalities aside, local runners claimed victories in both the men's and women's races this year.

In the 42-kilometer full marathon, Wong Kai-lok beat Japan's Masashi Shirotake with just a lead of four seconds in the men's race. In the woman's event, Christy Yiu Kit-ching crossed the finishing line in Victoria Park well ahead of other runners.

In the half-marathon, Vut Tsz-ying won in the women's race and Chan Ka-ho claimed victory in the men's race.

Female runner Lo Ching-chiu and male runner Wong Tsz-to won the 10km races.

Ten sent to hospitals and one in critical condition.

A man suspected to have cramps fell to the ground.