A 35-year-old runner and popular TikToker tragically died on Sunday shortly after finishing Disneyland’s Halloween Half Marathon. Bobby Graves, who was known as “Caleb” on social media, collapsed just after crossing the finish line of the race, which took place early in the morning amid a record-breaking heatwave in Southern California.
Anaheim Police Sgt. Matt Sutter confirmed to PEOPLE that Graves, who had been an avid runner, completed the race under challenging conditions. The race began at 5 a.m., and Graves crossed the finish line at approximately 7 a.m., completing the course in under two hours—a commendable time for the distance.
Sutter detailed the events leading up to the incident, saying, “As soon as he crossed the finish line, he started grabbing his chest. One of the workers noticed and ran up to him and caught him before he collapsed.”
@calebgtravels Disneyland Halloween half mararhon is tomorrow and this heat got me looking crazy #disney #rundisney #disneyland #disneyparks #run
Given the high-profile nature of the event, medics were on standby and quickly responded to the situation. “Fire and rescue personnel were right there on the scene,” Sutter said. “Emergency services could not have been there any faster.” Medics determined that Graves had gone into cardiac arrest and performed life-saving measures before transporting him to the hospital.
Despite the efforts of emergency personnel, Graves was pronounced dead at the hospital after an hour of medical intervention, Sutter confirmed.
In the hours leading up to his death, Graves had expressed concerns about the extreme heat in California. In a TikTok video posted to his more than 18,000 followers just a day before the marathon, Graves discussed his worries about the high temperatures. “Disneyland Half Marathon — the Halloween Half Marathon — is tomorrow and I’m marginally worried now,” he said.
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Graves had noted the sweltering heat in his video, recounting a recent experience with heat exhaustion. “I went outside today around 2:00 — which is probably the hottest part of the day — and it was 90-something degrees,” Graves said. He described an episode where he felt fine initially but later experienced heat exhaustion after walking his dog. “I just fell asleep — no control over my body. It was heat exhaustion, it’s only happened once to me before,” he added.
In a separate TikTok video, Graves had also shared footage of himself picking up his race number for the event. He urged fellow runners to stay hydrated and be mindful of the heat. “Stay hydrated and listen to your body,” he advised in the caption. “Good luck to all the runners!”
Sutter stated that there were no other reports of participants collapsing or requiring medical attention during the race. He noted that the event was held early in the morning, before the day’s heat reached its peak. “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,” Sutter explained.
The Orange County Coroner’s Office is currently handling the autopsy, and a report on the cause of death will be released in the coming weeks or months.
Graves, a Georgetown University law graduate, was employed as a litigation associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, according to the law firm’s website. His sudden death has shocked the running community and his followers, who have expressed their condolences and shared their memories of him on social media.
Graves’ tragic end serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of extreme heat, especially during physical exertion, and underscores the importance of taking precautions in such conditions.
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