TikTok star Caleb Graves said he had “lost control of (my) body” in his final video posted the day before the half marathon at Disneyland, where he collapsed and died.
Graves, 33, is a travel blogger and Disney theme park fanatic with more than 17,000 followers on the video platform, where he shared his training for Sunday’s Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon.
He admitted that he had some sort of “susceptibility” to extreme heat and said that a simple 20-minute walk outside with his dog had caused him to pass out 10 minutes after returning to his residence.
“I passed out,” he said. “I fell asleep, no control over my body, it was heat stroke. It’s only happened to me once before. I don’t know what’s going on, but I really hope I can finish the race tomorrow morning.”
Anaheim police said Graves collapsed after crossing the finish line around 7 a.m. local time and that emergency crews provided immediate assistance.
TikTok star Caleb Graves said he “lost control of (my) body” in his latest video posted the day before the half marathon at Disneyland, where he collapsed and died.
Graves, 33, is a travel blogger and Disney theme park fanatic 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 marathon staff noticed the gentleman clutching his chest,” said Sgt. Matt Sutter. Entertainment Weekly“They realized he was in cardiac arrest.”
Graves was taken to a local hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead just an hour after finishing the race.
The day before the race, Graves’ final video began with the 33-year-old lying down, exhausted, wearing only a towel or blanket after preparing for the day.
“The Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon is tomorrow and I’m… a little worried,” he said, seemingly exasperated, in the clip.
“I went out today around two o’clock, which is the hottest part of the day. It was 97 degrees and there are other places in the country where it’s obviously hotter, I know people will say it’s not terrible… I grew up in Texas, I know what it’s like,” she said, trying to dissuade people from thinking she was complaining.
He explained that UV exposure in Anaheim, where the race was held, was “kind of special” before talking about the heat exhaustion he suffered while out with his dog.
Temperatures in Anaheim were well over 100 degrees that weekend, reaching 110 on Friday and 107 on Sunday. In his video, Graves wrote that “this heat is no joke.”
However, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner are still investigating and Sutter has said it is unclear whether heat played a factor in Graves’ death.
Anaheim police said Graves collapsed after crossing the finish line around 7 a.m. local time and was immediately treated by emergency crews.
In addition to his travels and long-distance running, Graves was a litigation associate at a California law firm.
Graves had no underlying medical conditions before the race, Sutter said. The LA Times.
She had run marathons and half marathons before, including at Disney World in Orlando in 2023 and earlier this year.
Many of Graves’ videos show him running through the park as a long-distance runner and offering advice to his fellow runners.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our hearts 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 videoshiny with sweat and clearly tired after training for the race.
Professionally, the Texas native was a litigation associate at a law firm in nearby Century City.
“We were informed today that Caleb Graves has passed away. His many friends and colleagues at the firm mourn the loss of a stellar person and attorney,” partner Wilson Sonsini said in a statement.
‘Out of respect for the privacy of his family, we have no further comment at this time.’
Graves also published poetry and directed short films in his spare time.
