Mount Marathon Dangers Prove Real

One racer missing; one in coma

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By Alexis Fernandez

Story Created: Jul 10, 2012 at 5:30 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 10, 2012 at 6:40 PM AKDT

ALASKA - A runner who fell off a cliff while competing in the Mount Marathon Race in Seward last week remains in a medically induced coma at a local hospital.

For thousands, running the three-mile Mount Marathon race in Seward is a dream.

41-year-old Matthew Kenney, of Anchorage is very familiar with the race. He’s run it eight times. But this year, he took a different turn.

“He chose a route that comes not a typical route, but chose a route that he's had time on,” said Brad Precosky, a friend and spokesperson for the family.

Precosky says as Kenney was coming down from the mountain he lost his footing and slipped off a cliff, tumbled down 30 feet and landed in the shale near the foot of the mountain.

“Luckily there was a paramedic, or doctor there on the scene that was able to see that immediately and go there to stop a lot of the bleeding,” he said.

Kenney suffered severe head injuries and a broken leg.

He had to be medevaced to Anchorage and has since been in a medically induced coma, according to updates on a Facebook page set up by his friends.

The note also says Kenney has opened his eyes, which his friends say is a good sign.

“We’ve got really encouraging signs that things are going to come around, he doesn't have a neck injury, so what we're doing is just waiting on the brain right now,” Precosky said.

He says his swelling is slowly going down and doctors are hoping to wake him up in the next few days.

Kenney has a wife and two children.

The family has set up a donation fund to help with medical expenses under his name at Wells Fargo.

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Death said on Tuesday, Jul 10 at 10:59 PM

If u want to die then go ahead and go on the mountain for any reason.

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