Family Seeks Answers After Runner Dies in 50KM Ultra Run
RUNNER – A supposed celebration of endurance and adventure ended in grief for one Agusan del Sur family, who now claim that their loved one’s death during the Mt. Magdiwata Ultra Trail Run could have been prevented.
Agusan del Sur — The family of a 34-year-old runner who lost his life during the Mt. Magdiwata Ultra Trail Run (MMUT) 2025, held on October 5–6, is calling on the event organizers to take responsibility, saying the tragedy could have been avoided if sufficient medical aid had been available throughout the race.
The runner, identified as Jessie James Manatad, worked as a computer maintenance technologist at the D.O. Plaza Memorial Hospital (DOPMH). He reportedly collapsed while competing in the 50-kilometer ultramarathon, allegedly due to heat stroke and dehydration. His two sisters—both employed in the medical field—are now questioning the level of preparedness and emergency measures implemented by the organizers.
“This would not have happened if a doctor or even a nurse were readily available to attend to runners needing emergency medical attention,” said Sylver Joy Manatad Dinaya during her brother’s wake.
Dinaya, along with her sister Raquel Irish Manatad Ramientos, also from DOPMH, expressed disappointment with the San Francisco Water District (SFWD), the event’s main organizer. They claimed the group failed to put adequate medical personnel and essential supplies in place along the trail.
According to the sisters, critical items such as portable oxygen tanks, ice packs, spinal boards, and cradles—all necessary for handling exhaustion or heat-related emergencies—were not available.
Ramientos shared that her brother had difficulty breathing while being transported on a motorcycle by rescuers through rough terrain toward the nearest ambulance. “It took them more than an hour to reach the nearest ambulance, and he was already unconscious without being intubated,” she said. During the wake, family and friends showed photos and videos revealing that Jessie James was only given an oxygen mask even though he was already in severe respiratory distress.
She also pointed out that the San Francisco Emergency Response (SAFER) team, which handled the rescue, had personnel trained only in Basic Life Support (BLS). “They are not medical professionals who have undergone years of training in emergency response,” she added.
Their cousin, Maria Glaiza Comendador, clarified that the family’s intention was not to assign blame but to promote awareness. “We only want to remind organizers and runners alike to be fully prepared for these kinds of events that could have been preventable,” she said.
In a statement, the SFWD defended its management of the ultramarathon, stating that the race was “carefully planned and coordinated with concerned local authorities, medical teams, and support personnel to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants.” The agency added, “However, despite all safety measures in place, unforeseen circumstances occurred that were beyond anyone’s control.”
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