TWO runners died after competing in a mountain trail race in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, on Sunday. Police suspect the deaths were caused by heat stroke.
Santo Tomas police chief Maj. Edurdo Corpuz identified one of the runners as Klemt John Messina Brua, 39, the husband of New Bataan, Davao del Norte, Mayor Binca Cualing-Brua. Brua was a resident of Barangay San Jose.
The second runner was identified by radio and social media reports as Eric Joseph Taping, 33, a councilor from the town of Montevista in Davao de Oro.
The ‘Balikadaw X Santo Tomas Mountain Trail’ run began at 4 am in Barangay New Visayas. New Visayas Barangay chief Alfredo Jaway said he was notified that a runner had not returned by 12:30 pm. A search party was organized with soldiers from the 56th Infantry Battalion and the Santo Tomas Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
At 3:30 pm, searchers found Brua unconscious in a cliffside trail where he had fallen. He was taken to the Santo Tomas Medical Health Center and was pronounced dead on arrival.
A police report indicated a medical report from the hospital said Brua died of a traumatic brain injury, internal hemorrhage, and a cardiovascular attack likely induced by the heat.
Jaway said Brua fell unconscious while running on an elevated terrain, causing him to fall into the cliff.
Taping managed to finish the race but suffered “seizures” and was also taken to the Santo Tomas Medical Center. He later died at his home in Montevista on Sunday. Police also suspect Taping suffered a heat stroke during the run.
