California police investigate after 27 fall ill at half-marathon running event

Police in Santa Barbara, California, are investigating after almost 30 residents had to seek medical care at a half-marathon running event held in the city on Sunday.

Key points

• Cottage Hospital remarked it treated 27 residents from the half marathon at emergency rooms in Santa Barbara and the nearby city of Goleta.
• The BBC has contacted the Santa Barbara Police Department, Cottage Health and the half marathon organisers for further comment.
• Event director David Monico informed US media that 15 residents were taken from the medical tent to local hospitals since of dehydration and overheating.
• While three individuals were still in hospital as of Monday in stable condition, the vast majority of them – 24 – were discharged after treatment.
• A number of thousand residents ran the half marathon on a hotter-than-usual day in Santa Barbara along the Pacific Ocean.

In an official note provided to the BBC's US partner CBS News, officers remarked they received a report from Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital concerning race participants who sought medical treatment "for unusual symptoms" after the race concluded.

"The cause of the reported symptoms has not been confirmed, " the statement continued.

Cottage Health, which operates the hospital, informed CBS it had seen "a larger than expected number of emergency visits" from those who ran the race.

"There is no specific action recommended for the public at this time; however, participants who feel unwell should seek medical attention and follow guidance from healthcare professionals, " police remarked.

In practice, a number of thousand residents ran the half marathon on a hotter-than-usual day in Santa Barbara along the Pacific Ocean. Temperatures reportedly reached 86F (27C) by midday, compared to a typical early November temperature of low 70s.

One of the runners who went to hospital informed local news outlet KEYT-TV that they had lost consciousness and could not remember parts of the race.

"It is awfully suspicious, " remarked the runner. This person declined to be identified. "We had people saying they were hallucinating."

"I am not too familiar with heat exhaustion but I have never seen anyone not remembering a long portion of their run, " the runner continued.

Meanwhile, the BBC has contacted the Santa Barbara Police Department, Cottage Health and the half marathon organisers for further comment.

Taken together, the developments around california police investigate after 27 fall ill at half point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.