ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An investigation is under way into how long it took to get help to a runner who collapsed during this year's Skyway 10K race.
- Justin Doyle, 48, collapsed near 5-mile marker during race
- Agencies investigating whether there was confusion about Doyle's location on race route
- Family thanked those who stopped to help, not commenting on investigation
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Justin Doyle, 48, later died at the hospital.
People who participated in the race took to social media to complain about how the incident was handled.
Several of them said they saw other runners calling 911 and stopping to help Doyle.
Some claimed that it took so long for an ambulance to get there that Doyle was loaded on to a school bus being used to transport runners and then taken to the hospital.
They also complained that emergency vehicles couldn't get through the crowd to get to him.
Several different agencies, including St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, are investigating the incident, looking into whether there was confusion regarding where Doyle was located along the route.
Doyle's family is not commenting on the investigation, but they are thanking people who did stop and try to help.
"We're forever grateful for that," said Doyle's brother-in-law, James Suggs. "You know, that must have been hard in the middle of everything to just stop and help a person that was down."
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said in a statement it is "coordinating with all the agencies involved in the response to conduct a comprehensive post-incident analysis in order to determine the facts surrounding this tragic incident."
Doyle is being remembered for a foundation he started to help local cancer patients called the Hope, Health and Sunshine Foundation.
His family said he started it after his wife battled breast cancer.
Through the foundation, hundreds of cancer patients received assistance with medical bills and basic living expenses.
Funeral services are planned for Wednesday, March 11 at 10 a.m. at Cathedral of St. Jude, 5815 5th Ave. North in St. Petersburg.
We reached out to the organizers of the Skyway 10K to see if they will be making any changes to the event in the future, but we have not received a response.