Police Investigating After Half-Marathoners in Santa Barbara Report 'Unusual Symptoms

Police Investigating After Half-Marathoners in Santa Barbara Report ‘Unusual Symptoms

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An investigation has been launched by police after a number of runners who took part in Sunday’s half-marathon in Santa Barbara were hospitalized exhibiting strange symptoms unusual symptoms after the event.

The Santa Barbara Police Department stated that the runners seeking medical care reached Santa Barbara and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals via ambulance, on their own, or by walking in.

It remains unclear what the specific symptoms were or what caused them.

In a statement to NBC News, Cottage Health reported a larger than expected number of emergency visits linked to Sunday’s run.

“This morning 19 participants arrived at Cottage EDs, a number of them with similar symptoms of undetermined cause,” Cottage Health said, in part.

“We are working to determine whether this is due to the heat or other factors.”

Speaking in an interview with NBC Los Angeles, Santa Barbara Half Marathon event director David Monico explained that Sunday’s competition saw a higher volume of patient transports than previous years, potentially driven by warmer temperatures along with a greater turnout of runners.

“In years past, we’ve had overcast skies or less warm temperatures this time of year, so we have not had this many transports, but there’s always a handful,” he said.

“But this year, it was more than we’ve had in the past. We also had more runners than we’ve had in the past as well.”

According to Monico, the race’s medical staff positioned along the route observed typical conditions associated with endurance competitions, such as regular exhaustion, heat exhaustion, and dehydration.

“There was a lot that has been said on social media and was circulated, and so the police are doing their due diligence to see if there’s any facts and truth behind it,” he stated.

“We don’t know at this point. All we know is that from our medical team and what has been reported so far is that there weren’t any unusual symptoms or circumstances for those that have been transported that you typically see at events like this.”

Police indicated that the general public does not need to take any specific action at this time, though individuals who feel ill should seek medical help.

The annual event started at 7 a.m. and drew 7,500 registered participants, according to race organizers.

“Our wish is that everybody gets safe from point A to point B,” Monico said.

“For friends and family of those that had been transported and were hospitalized, we feel for them. We want them to come home safely.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Santa Barbara police Sgt. Andre Miller at 805-897-2330.

Police investigating after half-marathoners in Santa Barbara report 'unusual symptoms'

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