BEIJING, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Two runners, a college student and a retired man, collapsed and died while competing in an international marathon in Beijing Sunday, state media reported.
Liu Hongbin, 20, a sophomore at Jiaotong University in Beijing, and a retiree identified only by his surname Hu, collapsed during the race, Xinhua reported Monday. Both were rushed to nearby hospitals.
Liu collapsed 10 miles into the race and was sent to Haidian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after emergency treatment failed to revive him. Hu was confirmed dead Monday afternoon at north Beijing's Anzhen Hospital.
Another 11 runners were taken to hospitals for emergency treatment, with a woman from Beijing University in serious condition Monday in Haidian Hospital.
Some 400 competitors suffered injured ligaments.
Organizers said that about 25,000 people took part in Sunday's 26.2-mile event.
Runners complained that no drinking water was available along the course after the first 15 miles. The city's high temperature was in the low 70s Sunday.
Kenyan runner James Moiben won the marathon in two hours, 10 minutes, 42 seconds. Sun Yingjie of China won the women's division, in two hours, 24 minutes, 11 seconds.
