The Comrades Marathon runner who went missing after completing Sunday’s ‘down run’ was found by construction workers in a hypothermic state on Monday around 07:30 – some 15 hours after she crossed the finish line.
Moira Harding, 54, who was competing in the colours of Fish Hoek Athletic Club in the Western Cape, was found near the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) base in The Point, Durban.
The base is situated roughly 7km from the new Comrades Marathon finish on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue at People’s Park.
The workers initially thought she was out training, but soon realised she was in fact in distress.
Remains unclear how she ended up at NSRI base
Harding, who lives in Kommetjie, took a respectable 10:52:03 to complete the 89.98km run, well inside the 12-hour cut-off.
At the time of publishing it remains unclear how Harding ended up near the NSRI base, although reports indicate that she is a good friend of one of the station commanders at the base and that it was possible that she could have been walking there to find a safe space.
She was found lying on her back in a semi-conscious state and hypothermic having been out in the cold the whole night.
Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, provided a key update.
Jamieson said a few ‘leads’ were followed.
In providing an update on her condition, he said: “It had a lot to do with temperature, she had just finished a marathon, a very long run, and your body is already tired. Then with the weather and being outside all night, anyone would be cold, especially with the rain.
“She was extremely cold, hypothermic, which leads to a further state of confusion.”
He added that Harding would have been sent to St Augustine’s Hospital, but due to the seriousness of her condition, a helicopter was called in and she was taken to Umhlanga Netcare Hospital.
Did you watch – or run – this year’s Comrades Marathon?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
