DURBAN - Relief and concern have washed over the Comrades Marathon community after Moira Harding, a runner who went missing after completing the race, was found in critical condition. Harding, representing Fish Hoek Athletic Club, disappeared after being recorded as finishing the grueling ultramarathon in under 11 hours on Sunday.
A large-scale search operation was launched, involving Metro Police Search & Rescue, paramedics, and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The search concluded on Monday morning when Harding was discovered near the NSRI base at the end of Mahatma Gandhi Road (Point Road).
Garrith Jamieson, spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, reported that Harding was found in a critical state and urgently transported to a Durban hospital by helicopter. “Advanced life support paramedics, SAPS, Metro Police Search and Rescue were all on scene,” Jamieson confirmed.
Harding's brother-in-law, Sean Baldwin, expressed immense relief that she had been found. “She was found near the port, and we are waiting at the hospital,” he stated, anxiously awaiting updates on her condition.
Originally from Durban but now residing in Cape Town, Harding ran the Comrades Marathon with her sister, Fiona. According to Baldwin, the sisters ran together for much of the race, separating around the 70km or 80km mark, with Fiona finishing approximately 20 minutes ahead. Reports indicated Harding was last seen in the runners' pen.
A missing person's case had been opened at the Durban Central police station as the search intensified. The circumstances surrounding Harding’s disappearance and subsequent discovery in critical condition remain under investigation.
The Comrades Marathon community and Harding's family are hoping for her swift recovery. Further updates will be provided as they become available.