TikTok star’s haunting last video before collapsing and dying after crossing the finish line at Disneyland’s Halloween Half-Marathon amid heatwave
TikTok star Caleb Graves said he ‘lost control of his life’ [my] body’ in his last video, which he posted the day before the Disneyland half marathon, where he collapsed and died.
Graves, 33, is a travel blogger and Disney theme park fan with more than 17,000 followers on the video platform, where he shared his training for Sunday’s Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon.
He admitted to having some ‘sensitivity’ to the extreme heat and said that after just a 20-minute walk with his dog he had passed out 10 minutes after returning home.
“I just passed out,” he said. “I just fell asleep, no control over my body, it was heat exhaustion. It’s only happened to me once before. I don’t know what’s going on, but I really hope I can make it through the race tomorrow morning!”
According to Anaheim police, Graves collapsed after crossing the finish line around 7 a.m. local time and was immediately treated by emergency responders.
TikTok star Caleb Graves said he ‘lost control of his life’ [my] ‘body’ in his last video posted the day before the Disneyland half marathon where he collapsed and died
Graves, 33, is a travel blogger and Disney theme park fan with more than 17,000 followers on the video platform, where he shared his training for Sunday’s Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon
“The runner crossed the finish line. As soon as he did, one of the employees at the marathon noticed the gentleman grabbing his chest,” said Sergeant Matt Sutter Entertainment weekly“They noticed he was going into cardiac arrest.”
Graves was taken to a local hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead an hour after the end of the race.
The day before the race, Graves’ final video began with the 33-year-old lying exhausted on the ground, wearing only a towel or blanket after preparing for the day.
“Tomorrow is the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon and I’m… a little worried,” he said, seemingly exasperated, in the clip.
“I went outside today around 2 o’clock, which is the hottest part of the day. It was 95 degrees and there are other places in the country that are noticeably warmer, I know people are going to say it’s not that bad… I grew up in Texas, I know what he’s like,” he said, trying to dissuade people from thinking he was complaining.
He explained that UV exposure in Anaheim, where the race was held, was “a whole different story,” and then went on to talk about the heat exhaustion he suffered while out with his dog.
Temperatures in Anaheim that weekend were well over 100 degrees, with 110 on Friday and 107 on Sunday. In his video, Graves wrote in the caption, “This heat is no joke.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and coroner’s office are still investigating, and Sutter said it’s unclear whether the heat played a role in Graves’ death.
Anaheim police said Graves collapsed after crossing the finish line around 7 a.m. local time and was immediately assisted by emergency responders.
In addition to his travels and long-distance running, Graves was a trial attorney at a California law firm
Graves had no underlying medical conditions before the race, Sutter said. the LA Times.
He has previously run marathons and half marathons, including at Disney World in Orlando in 2023 and earlier this year.
Many of Graves’ videos show him touring the park as a long-distance runner, giving tips to other participants.
“We are heartbroken by this tragic loss and our condolences go out to Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Jessica Good said in a statement.
On August 14, Graves posted another videoglistening with sweat and clearly tired after training for the race.
Professionally, the Texas-born attorney worked as a trial attorney at a law firm in nearby Century City.
“Today we were informed that Caleb Graves has passed away. His many friends and colleagues at the firm mourn the loss of a luminary and advocate,” partner Wilson Sonsini said in a statement.
“Out of respect for his family’s privacy, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
In his spare time, Graves also published poems and directed short films.