In a heartbreaking incident during the 2XU Compression Run on Sunday, April 27, a 23-year-old participant tragically lost his life. This shocking event unfolded along Raffles Avenue in the early morning hours when authorities were summoned at around 6:25 AM.

Despite swift action from the Singapore Civil Defence Force, who rushed the unconscious man to Singapore General Hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Initial police investigations have indicated no signs of foul play, although the inquiry remains ongoing.

The organizers of the race expressed their profound sorrow in a statement shared on Instagram later that day, stating, "We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of one of our participants at this morning's 2XU Compression Run. Our deepest condolences are with the family and friends during this difficult time. As the matter is under police investigation, we are unable to share further details at this point."

The event, which kicked off around 4:15 AM at the F1 Pit Building, attracted over 20,000 enthusiastic runners across various categories, including 5km, 10km, and the half-marathon distance of 21.1km.

However, after the race, many participants took to social media to voice serious concerns about the safety and organization of the event. Issues were raised regarding the poorly lit and narrow route, inadequate hydration points, and a lack of available medical assistance. One runner lamented, "Did my 5km yesterday and I was so bummed that there were no medics around or even first-aid points, especially at the midway points... No water stations there too. Need to finish the race to go to first aid."

Another participant echoed similar frustrations, stating, "Where was the water at stations? People had to walk to public places and stop to use water fountains. Even after the finishing line, they gave out only one bottle of energy drinks. And I had to walk 400-500m outside to get simple water." Participants expressed their dismay at the bottlenecks encountered along the route, particularly between the 8km and 12km marks, where water stations were notably absent.

One commenter in the Singapore Runners Club Facebook group starkly remarked, "To witness not one but two runners down within 50m apart was a scary sight," highlighting the urgent need for improvements in safety management during events of such scale.

With concerns continuing to mount, AsiaOne has reached out to the event organizers for clarification and further details.