Doctor Performs CPR After Runner Collapses Near Edmonton Marathon Finish Line
A quick response can make all the difference in a medical emergency. That was the case during the Edmonton Marathon when a man collapsed just blocks from the finish line and stopped breathing. Thanks to the swift actions of a passing doctor, the man began breathing again before paramedics arrived.
Emergency Near the Finish Line
According to witnesses, the man—believed to be in his mid-20s—was running toward the finish of the half-marathon at Jasper Avenue and 103 Street when he suddenly collapsed face-first onto the road. Spectator Courtney Repchinsky said she was watching from the corner when the incident unfolded.
Dr. Tamara Kuzma, a physician from Saskatoon, was waiting in her vehicle nearby when she noticed the man lying motionless on the ground with a police officer by his side. After approximately 15 seconds without movement, Kuzma rushed out of her car to help.
CPR Begins as the Runner Stops Breathing
Kuzma and the officer checked the man’s pulse and initially found a heartbeat, but he remained completely unresponsive. Moments later, they detected that his breathing had stopped.
“We noticed that the pulse was absent… so we decided to do CPR,” Kuzma told reporters.
She began performing CPR—briefly, for around 30 seconds—until the man started breathing again. The police officer had already called for an ambulance, which arrived shortly after. Emergency responders then took over, loading the man onto a stretcher and transporting him to hospital for further care.
Race organizers and Alberta Health Services were unable to provide an update on his condition following the incident.
Kuzma credits her quick reaction to medical training and describes the response as instinctual—what she called “a typical doctor reaction.”
Why CPR Training Saves Lives
This incident is a powerful example of how fast action can preserve life. CPR keeps oxygen flowing to the brain and organs during cardiac arrest, dramatically improving the chances of survival.
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