Comrades Marathon finisher goes missing, found critically injured hours later

June 9, 2025

Moira Harding, a runner in the W50-59 age category who finished Sunday’s Comrades Marathon in South Africa in 10:49:58, mysteriously went missing after the race and was only found Monday morning, disoriented and dehydrated, several kilometres from the race finish. According to local reports, Harding was airlifted to hospital and is recovering.

When her family was unable to locate her after the race, notices were issued on social media; this elicited numerous complaints about inadequate signage and chaos at the finish line in Durban, which had been changed from the cricket stadium to an outdoor, on-street finish. Commenters mentioned having encountered similar situations, with exhausted runners unable to find their supporters (it would be evening, and dark, by the time most finishers were leaving the area) or obtain adequate aid after finishing.

This could’ve been avoided if the finish was in the stadium. Running Magazine