The death of 33-year-old runner Julien Autissier marked an unprecedented event in the 24-year history of the Miami Marathon, after he collapsed during the race held on Sunday, January 25, in the city center.
According to reports from the Miami New Times, Autissier collapsed at the 30.5-kilometer mark and was rushed to Mercy Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The preliminary diagnosis points to sudden cardiac arrest, although the official cause is still under investigation.
What happened to Julien Autissier during the Miami Marathon?
According to his wife, Nathaly Macomber, the police informed her that her husband vomited and lost consciousness while running. Paramedics responded to the scene and immediately took him to the hospital.
“I still haven’t been able to see the medical reports or the police report”, Macomber, as he awaits official details about what happened.
For his part, Deputy Commissioner Pete Sánchez, spokesperson for City of Miami Fire Rescue, confirmed the emergency operation:
“We transported a man from the race to Mercy Hospital after he suffered a medical emergency. He was treated and transported in critical condition”.
The authorities did not provide any further medical information due to privacy laws.
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A healthy athlete with no medical history
Autissier’s death has caused shock, as, according to his family, he had no history of heart disease or known health problems. She maintained an active lifestyle, trained regularly, and rarely took medication.
Weeks before the marathon, I had participated in high-intensity physical activities, such as climbing the Acatenango (3,976 m) and Volcán de Fuego volcanoes in Guatemala.
“He was very strong and fast. I never thot something like this could happen to him”, his wife said.
Ongoing investigation into death at the Miami Marathon
The case was turned over to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office, which will be responsible for determining the definitive cause of death thru the corresponding autopsy.
To date, the event organizers, Life Time, as well as local police, have not issued any official statements about the death, despite requests from local media.
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Who was Julien Autissier?: personal and professional life
Originally from France, Julien Autissier moved to the United States, where he met Nathaly Macomber. The couple got married in Amsterdam in 2019.
In the professional sphere, he worked as a financial analyst at Saxena White, a firm specializing in securities litigation, and was preparing to take his second professional exam.
At the family level, he was described as a supportive, attentive, and committed man, especially toward his wife’s two children, whom he supported in their daily lives and at school.
A historic and tragic event for the Miami Marathon
The death of Julien Autissier represents the first recorded fatality in the history of the Miami Marathon, an event that each year brings together thousands of international runners.
The results of the forensic examination will be key to clarifying the causes of death and are still awaited by both the family and the sports community.
