Young athlete who died after Army Run identified

A family friend of the runner who died after collapsing at the finish line of this Sunday's Canada Army Run in Ottawa has identified him as Philip Everson, 26.

Everson, originally from Cornwall, Ont., was a graduate of the University of Waterloo and worked as the vice-president of education for GooseChase, an app-based company that creates educational scavenger hunts.

Everson went into cardiac arrest after crossing the finish line at the Canadian War Museum around 11:25 a.m.

Paramedics were unable to get his heart started by the time he arrived at hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time after.

"Unfortunately, he was not responding to our treatment," said Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamp.

"Our resuscitation effort didn't work."

Remembered for determination

Abi Fontaine, a teacher at St. Lawrence Secondary School in Cornwall and a friend of Everson, said she recognized him as a determined young man who got into running because he loved to pursue goals.

"That gave him the drive. That gave him a purpose and he was very much about what do I want to do and how am I going to get there. I've never seen a child with so much determination and a plan," Fontaine told CBC's All in a Day on Monday afternoon. 

She said Everson was a resourceful student who would overcome any obstacle, and who had an entrepreneurial spirit that attracted clients to his business when he was too young to drive.

"Phil Everson at about 14 was CEO of his own company, where he was creating websites," she said.

"He didn't want other people to think youth was an obstacle or youth was an excuse for not finding your niche in the world and carving your own place."

Race organizers 'saddened'

Maj. David Tischhauser, race director for the Canada Army Run, said organizers are saddened by the death of a participant and expressed sympathy for the family. He said conditions were safe throughout the day.

"At all times, we were able to extend the very best of medical care that we could on site. Unfortunately, even in this circumstance, the result was tragic and we're really saddened," Tischhauser said.

"From our first review of the procedures that followed, the individual was given immediate medical assistance and care. We'll see what kind of recommendations come as we find out more about the situation and review what had happened."

Tischhauser confirmed Everson completed a half-marathon. He said organizers later decided to shorten the course by about 1.5 kilometres because of the number of participants who sought medical attention at the finish line.

Nine other people involved in the weekend's running events were taken to hospital on Sunday, paramedics said. It was unseasonably warm and humid at the time of the race.

Five more were treated on site for symptoms including dehydration, exhaustion and heart problems.

A male runner in his 30s died while participating in Ottawa Race Weekend in May.