What started as a celebratory race morning in Carlsbad ended in tragedy Sunday when a 25-year-old San Diego man collapsed just short of the Carlsbad Half Marathon finish line and later died at the hospital. Paramedics immediately began resuscitation efforts at the scene and rushed him to Tri‑City Medical Center in Oceanside, where he was pronounced dead. Family members identified the runner as Andres Aguilar while officials continue to investigate exactly what happened.
Official findings and case log
According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, Aguilar's case log lists Tri‑City Medical Center as his place of death and notes that he "had a witnessed cardiac arrest." The log records his time of death as 10:54 a.m. on Sunday and assigns the case number 2026-00176. The office states that the official cause of death remains pending while investigators complete their review.
Race response and on-course care
City officials and race organizers reported that Aguilar was not the only participant who needed help during the event. Several runners required medical attention, and nine people were taken to hospitals, eight of them within roughly a 45-minute window around 10 a.m., according to NBC San Diego. Organizers outlined a medical plan that included ambulances on site, first-aid stations along the route and roving CPR-certified race guards. A race spokesperson said they were "deeply saddened" by Aguilar's death and publicly thanked emergency responders for their quick actions, according to local coverage.
Paramedics tried to revive Aguilar at the course before he was transported, as reported by 10News. He was pronounced dead at Tri‑City Medical Center in Oceanside, according to authorities and news reports. Officials have not released additional medical details while the medical examiner continues its review.
The Carlsbad Marathon, which includes the half marathon Aguilar was running, starts and finishes at The Shoppes at Carlsbad. The city highlighted the route in a pre-race notice that also listed road closures for race-day safety, according to the City of Carlsbad. Organizers told Road Race Management that nearly 8,000 runners took part this year, a turnout that underscored the scale of the field local emergency teams were prepared to cover.
Friends and coworkers described Aguilar as an active, outdoorsy 25-year-old who trained with a running group from his workplace, according to local reporting. His employer shared a brief public statement offering condolences to his family and colleagues. As they mourn, Aguilar's relatives have urged others to stay current with routine medical checkups and screenings, per coverage from NBC San Diego.
The medical examiner's public log indicates that the case remains under investigation and that the official cause of death is still pending. Family members have been notified, and authorities say they will share further updates as they become available through the examiner's office and race organizers.
