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Heart Condition Blamed for Marathon Death

Cardiac malformation, not sweltering heat, felled Michigan cop

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 8, 2007 4:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – The 35-year-old police officer who died during yesterday's Chicago Marathon succumbed to a pre-existing heart condition, not the record heat, his autopsy has revealed. Chad Schieber of Midland, Mich., suffered from mitral valve prolapse, the Chicago Tribune reports. The marathon was canceled after 3½ hours when high temperatures raised fears about the runners' safety.

Of the 315 runners taken from the course by ambulance, 25 remained hospitalized today, with nine in serious to critical condition. Reports of water shortages along the route stemmed from volunteers' inability to keep up with demand for refills as runners doused themselves with multiple cups of water, a marathon official said.

Medical workers tend to race participants during the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, in Chicago. Organizers shut down the course and diverted runners back to the finish area four hours after the start because of sweltering heat and humidity. (AP Photo/Jerry Lai)
Medical workers tend to race participants during the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, in Chicago. Organizers shut down the course and diverted runners back to the finish area four hours after...   (Associated Press)
Marathoners walk through water sprayed from a hose after finishing the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, in Chicago. Blistering temperatures caused organizers to halt the race about 3 1/2 hours into the run and tell runners who hadn't reached the halfway point to return to...
Marathoners walk through water sprayed from a hose after finishing the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, in Chicago. Blistering temperatures caused organizers to halt the race...   (Associated Press)
Carey Pinkowski, Chicago Marathon race director, takes a sip of water during a news conference in Chicago, Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. Pinkowski said organizers halted Sunday's race on concerns that emergency medical personnel wouldn't be able to keep up with heat-related injuries as the weather turned more cruel. At least...
Carey Pinkowski, Chicago Marathon race director, takes a sip of water during a news conference in Chicago, Monday, Oct. 8, 2007. Pinkowski said organizers halted Sunday's race on concerns that emergency...   (Associated Press)
Berhane Adere, center, of Ethiopia, is treated by medical personnel after winning the women's division of the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon with a time of 2
Berhane Adere, center, of Ethiopia, is treated by medical personnel after winning the women's division of the 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon with a time of 2   (Associated Press)
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