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‘Ultra running’s biggest tragedy’: 21 people perish during 62-mile marathon in China as horror weather ‘freezes victims to death’
At least 21 athletes including trail running legend Liang Jiang have died in the Huanghe Shilin Mountain Marathon in north-west China after brutal weather swept across the region, according to state media in the country.
Chinese officials cited a dramatic change in weather conditions during the race in the Yellow River Stone Forest on Saturday as the fatal reason behind the horrific tragedy, with some of the victims issuing cries for help in a messaging group before disappearing as the race was halted.
Severe gales and freezing hail and rain are said to have hit the high-altitude stage as runners climbed 6,500 feet above sea level wearing just shorts and t-shirts at around 1pm.
100 km cross-country marathon in north central China, Gansu resulted in deaths of 21 participants because of drastic change of weather conditions : hailing, freezing rain, severe drop of temperature, high wind.Deaths included several well-known marathon runners.
