A 35-year-old TikTok creator collapsed and died while running a marathon in Southern California's extreme heat this week.
Bobby Graves, an experienced marathon runner, "clutched his chest" while crossing the finish line, KTLA reported. The runner had no known health issues.
The tragedy unfolded after 7 a.m. at Disneyland in Anaheim, where Graves was running the Halloween Half Marathon. The coroner is investigating the cause of his sudden cardiac arrest.
Just a day before the tragedy, Graves shared an eerie message with his TikTok following: "I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning," he told his 18,000 fans.
Graves had experienced heat exhaustion, telling his followers, “I was outside for like 20 minutes walking my dog...Ten minutes later after I came back in, I just passed out.”
The Texas native said he was not used to the UV conditions in Southern California, which experienced temperatures in the triple digits this week.
"The UV exposure with the heat in Southern California is its own kind of beast," he said.
Graves ran Disney World's full marathon and half-marathon in 2024 and 2023, KTLA reported. He was not known to have any health conditions, Anaheim Police Sgt. Matt Sutter said.
“Anaheim fire and rescue personnel were on scene immediately and started giving lifesaving measures and transported them to the hospital,” Sutter said. “Unfortunately, they worked on him for about an hour, and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.”
Graves, who went by his middle name Caleb, was a Los Angeles lawyer specializing in copyright, entertainment and intellectual property.
On TikTok, Graves was known as an experienced runner and Disney fan who participated in marathons at the company's theme parks.
“We were informed earlier today that Caleb Graves passed away. His many friends and colleagues at the firm are grieving the loss of a stellar person and lawyer,” his employer, law firm Wilson Sonsini, said by email. “Out of respect for his family’s privacy, we have no further comment at this time.”
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Disneyland Resort spokesperson Jessica Good said in an email.
This is not the first time a runner has died in a Disney marathon. In 2019, a runner died during the Walt Disney World Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend 5K.
