TikTok star Caleb Graves has sadly passed away aged 35 after collapsing at the finish line of Disneyland's half marathon.
Graves collapsed shortly after crossing the finish line around 7:00AM on Sunday, September 8, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
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According to Anaheim Police Sgt. Matt Sutter, Graves was seen clutching his chest before a volunteer caught him as he collapsed.
“Anaheim fire and rescue personnel were on scene immediately and started giving lifesaving measures and transported him to the hospital,” Sutter stated.
“Unfortunately, they worked on him for about an hour, and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.”
The Orange County coroner’s office confirmed Graves' identity. Known online by his middle name, Caleb, Graves was a resident of Garden Grove and a well-known Disney enthusiast.
He built a large following on social media under the username @calebgtravels, where he shared his love for Disney with more than 20,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.
In a TikTok video posted the day before the race, Graves expressed concerns about the extreme heat in Southern California, which had been nearing 90 degrees.
He described his worries: "The Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon is tomorrow and I'm marginally worried now. So I went outside today around like 2:00PM which is part of the hottest part of the day and it was like 90-something degrees... The UV exposure with the heat in Southern California is its own kind of beast."
Graves also recounted experiencing heat exhaustion after spending only 20 minutes outdoors.
"I maybe have some susceptibility [...] temporary or long term to heat because I was outside for like 20 minutes walking my dog," he said.
Graves continued: "10 minutes after I got back in I just passed out, I just fell asleep, no control over my body, it was heat exhaustion. [...] I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning."
Born in Stephenville, Texas, Graves held a degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Georgetown University.
He worked as a litigation associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, specializing in intellectual property, digital media, and entertainment law.
“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,” Wilson Sonsini said in a statement.
“Out of respect for his family’s privacy, we have no further comment at this time.”
Graves was an experienced long-distance runner with no known preexisting medical conditions.
He regularly shared running tips and reviews of Disney road races on his social media platforms.
Earlier this year, he had successfully completed both the full marathon and half marathon at Disney World.
A Disneyland Resort spokesperson, Jessica Good, expressed condolences in a statement to The LA Times: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time."
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