Teenager Dies of Heart Attack During ‘Color Race’

A teenager died of a heart attack on Saturday while participating in a “Color Race” organized by mobile phone operator Metfone on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich island, officials said Sunday.

Tonle Bassac commune police chief Sok Sam Oth said Ouk Chanthorn, 18, was taking part in the race—in which thousands of runners covered each other with colored powder—when he collapsed.

Mr. Sam Oth said Ouk Chanthorn was transported to Calmette Hospital, where he later died. Nong Sovanroath, the doctor who examined the body, said that Ouk Chanthorn died of a heart attack.

“He is dead because of his personal health problem,” he said.

“If at the event there was no air to breathe or there was pollution, there would not be only one person dead like this; there would be a lot dead,” he said.

Dr. Sovanroath said that none of the colored powder was found in Ouk Chanthorn’s mouth or nose.

“So he died from heart attack,” he said. “It could happen any time and cause death immediately.”

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