TikTok influencer dies after finishing Disneyland marathon amid heatwave
An influencer on TikTok took his last breath right after he finished running the 2024 Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon.
In a report by Entertainment Weekly, 35-year-old Caleb Graves suffered a medical emergency shortly after crossing the finish line of the 13.1-mile course.
"The runner crossed the finish line. As soon as he did, one of the workers at the marathon noticed the gentleman was clutching his chest. They noticed he was going into cardiac arrest," detailed Sgt. Matt Sutter, a public information officer for the Anaheim Police Department.
Despite being quickly transported by emergency personnel to the nearby medical center, Graves was pronounced dead approximately an hour after he had finished the race at 7:00 in the morning.
In a statement to the news outlet, Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good said, "We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time."
A day before participating in the marathon, Graves told his more than 19,000 followers on his @calebgtravels account about the intense heat he has been experiencing in California and admitted how he was "marginally worried" about the race.
"I went outside today around 2:00—which is probably the hottest part of the day—and it was 90-something degrees," he said.
"I was outside for like 20 minutes, walking my dog, and it was hot, but I felt fine ... and then like 10 minutes after I got back in, I just passed out. I just fell asleep—no control over my body. It was heat exhaustion, it's only happened once to me before," he added.
Graves shared that he had no idea what was going on with the weather, but that he hoped that he would "get through the race tomorrow morning."
@calebgtravels Disneyland Halloween half mararhon is tomorrow and this heat got me looking crazy #disney #rundisney #disneyland #disneyparks #run ♬ original sound - Caleb
According to The Weather Channel, temperatures exceeded 100 degrees (37.7 degrees Celsius) on each day of the marathon event. But Sutter told PEOPLE that the race took place early in the morning, not during "the full heat of the day."
"I've spoken to medical professionals who say that one or two cardiac events can happen during a big race like this. But the deaths are rare," he added.
Graves is known for his informative videos on Disney movies and parks.
The next Disneyland marathon is scheduled from Jan. 30 through Feb. 2 next year.