Young engineer collapses, dies after half marathon
The runner who died after collapsing at the finish line at the Army Run on Sunday has been identified as Philip Everson, 26, a Cornwall native and recent University of Waterloo graduate.
“It is with great sadness that I tell you that our son Philip passed away earlier today (Sunday),” said a Facebook posting attributed to his parents, Tom and Johneen Everson. “After completing his race at the Army Run, he collapsed and, despite the heroic efforts of many medical personnel, he could not be revived.
“He died doing what he loved and will be missed by many. Please keep our family in your prayers.”
Everson studied management engineering at the University of Waterloo, where he was listed as a member of the Waterloo Warriors cross-country team and an active member of the Kitchener-Waterloo startup community with the university’s VeloCity program, an incubator for early-stage tech startups.
Everson worked to encourage more students to start companies, according to his online biography at GooseChase Adventures, a computer software company that allowed users to organize scavenger hunts. He was the vice-president of education at the startup and his sister, Rebecca, was community co-ordinator.
Abi Fontaine, a teacher at St. Lawrence Secondary School in Cornwall, said on Monday that “WonderPhil” was the epitome of school spirit. “He overcame so many obstacles on his journey to becoming a widely respected businessman and entrepreneur. His initiative, determination and quirky personality made him impossible to overlook.”
Everson was involved in cross-country running, student council, tech crew, band, yearbook, the Santa Claus parade efforts and youth groups, among many other activities. And he never forgot his local roots.
“You name it, Phil was involved,” Fontaine said. “He was the kid we all counted on. Even after he left SLSS/CCVS to pursue (schooling at Waterloo), he never failed to visit and keep up on our lives. Personally, he was a running partner, my tech support adviser, and most important of all, a close friend. The connection we shared was a rare bond, and I will miss him forever.”
Everson completed the half marathon in one hour 42 minutes and 24.7 seconds, finishing 304 out of a field of 3,741 runners. The split times show that his pace was flagging towards the end of the race, but he picked up his pace for the final push to the finish line.
According to the Ottawa Paramedic Service, a runner collapsed in cardiac arrest after crossing the finish line around 11:25 a.m. on Sunday. Paramedics and their partners from MedVent and St. John Ambulance initiated CPR and aggressive resuscitation measures, but despite their efforts the runner’s heart was not restarted in the field and he was transported to the hospital in life-threatening condition.
Army Run spokesman Lt.-Col. Douglas MacNair, who was the finish line to congratulate runners as they crossed, said he saw the runner cross the finish line. “I saw the young man coming. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. I congratulated some people, and when I looked back, he was being lifted into a wheelchair,” he said.
Volunteers are trained to look for runners in distress at the finish line, where this most commonly happens, and are immediately taken to a nearby medical tent, said MacNair.
Most of the patients who needed medical attention at Army Run suffered from dehydration and exhaustion related illnesses, according to Ottawa paramedics. Ten people were taken to local hospitals, including three in serious conditions and one in life-threatening condition.
This is first time there has been a death in the 12-year history of the Army Run, said MacNair. The military does a review after every Army Run, a process that this year may take several months.
Army Run organizers have to satisfy the City of Ottawa that public safety is addressed before they can acquire a permit for the event, said MacNair: “Our goal is to run a safe event.”
With files from the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder