UST professor dies a day after participating in a marathon

A professor of the University of Santo Tomas died on Monday, a day after he participated in a 42-km marathon in Pasay City.

Fernando Torres passed away on Monday, his sister Carrie Torres confirmed in a Facebook post. 

She said her brother suffered from arrhythmia and was confined at Manila Doctors' Hospital. 

A concerned netizen reported seeing a man, who later turned out to be Torres, collapsing during the National Geographic Earth Day Run (NatGeo Run) 2017 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City on Sunday.

"Hindi ko po akalain na sa harapan ko pa babaksak ang isang runner na halos wala ng buhay... Di ko siya kilala pero dahil sa kapwa ko siya runner kaya tinulungan namin siya. 42k ang tinakbo niya and between 48 to 55 yrs old na siya," said Francine Aguirre in a Facebook post. 

"Two lang kaming runner at pareho pa kaming babae... at isang mama na di runner ang tumulong para lang maiupo siya at matulungang huminga... Walang may alam sa amin sa first aid. Samantalang nadaanan ko ang mga ambulance na nakatambay lang," Aguirre said. 

In a Facebook message, Aguirre said it took 20 to 30 minutes before the ambulance arrived. 

"Dapat sana kung may ambulance lang at nakabitan siya ng oxygen, malamang buhay pa siya. Almost 20 to 30 minutes na kami at umiiyak na ko kasi nakita ko na maputla na siya at nag-chi-chill ang dila," Aguirre told GMA News Online. 

"Nadaanan ko pa ang ambulance na mga nakatanga lang sa isang portion na dapat sana hindi sila tumitigil ng roving or checking sa route map hangga't hindi pa tapos makatuntong ang lahat ng runners sa finish line," she added. 

Aguirre said two men, who seemed to be marshals, arrived and gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to Torres. However, there was still no ambulance. 

"Dapat sana ginamitan na agad ng oxygen... na-revive pa siya, bumalik ang kulay niya pero bigla ulit namutla. Hanggang sa nakita ko siyang di na nagre-response at tirik na ang mata," Aguirre said. 

According to Aguirre, Torres seemed to be alone during the running event. 

She posted the narration of the incident as she wants this to be a "wake up call" to organizers of running events.  

"This is a 'WAKE UP CALL' sa lahat ng organizer. Sana naman binibigyan niyo ng importansiya ang lahat ng runners, hindi porket nakapag bayad na kami eh ganun na lang yun?! Na kung maaari hangga't hindi natatapos ang lahat ng runners na makatungtong sa finish line... eh laging naka-antabay ang mga ambulance. Tulad nun halos 30 mins na wala pa ring dumarating na ambulance para saklolohan si kuya..." she said in a Facebook post.

"This battle is for this man. 'Di ko siya kilala personally pero bilang kapwa ko siya runner, may pakialam ako at dapat may pakialam ang bawat runners especially organizers," Aguirre told GMA News Online. 

A report from UST's The Varsitarian said Torres was an assistant professor at the College of Fine Arts and Design. He was 46. 

A wake for him is being held until Saturday, April 29, at the Arlington Memorial Chapel in Quezon City, The Varsitarian said.

The Runrio Events, Inc., meanwhile, expressed sympathy over the death of Torres.
"It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of one of our runners in the NatGeo Earth Day Run 2017 held last April 23. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Fernando Torres at this most difficult time," the company said in a statement.

"Rest assured that we are doing everything necessary under the circumstances," the company added. — KG/BAP, GMA News