Police are investigating after 25 runners participating in the Santa Barbara Half Marathon were hospitalized with 'unusual symptoms' of an undetermined cause, though race organizers suggest heat and dehydration as the likely culprits amid unseasonably warm weather.
At least 25 participants in the Santa Barbara Half Marathon were rushed to the hospital on Sunday after experiencing 'unusual symptoms' following the race. The Santa Barbara Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident after receiving reports from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital about multiple half-marathon participants seeking medical treatment. Neither the hospital nor police have detailed the specific symptoms, only calling them 'unusual' and of an 'undetermined cause.' Cottage Health reported a 'larger than expected number of emergency visits' with similar symptoms, noting that 25 participants arrived at its Santa Barbara and Goleta emergency rooms. As of Monday morning, 18 had been discharged, with the others in stable condition. Race organizers, however, believe any illness is attributable to heat or dehydration. Event director David Monico stated that 15 people were transported from the medical tent to local hospitals and that the event's medical team treated numerous runners for dehydration and overheating, adding there were 'no unusual symptoms or anything outside of the norm' for such an event. The temperature in Santa Barbara reached an unseasonable 80 degrees Fahrenheit (around 27 degrees Celsius) by 10 a.m., which is higher than typical November temperatures. Roughly 7,500 people participated in the 13.1-mile event.
