TikToker Caleb Graves Expressed Heat Concerns Before Collapsing at Finish Line of Disney Half Marathon

Caleb Graves attends the BoxLunch Holiday Gala honoring Feeding America at Academy LA on Nov. 9, 2023. Steven Simione/Getty Images

Social media influencer Bobby Graves died after competing in Disneyland’s Halloween Half Marathon over the weekend.

The avid runner and popular TikToker collapsed just moments after crossing the finish line Sept. 8, according to Anaheim police Sgt. Matt Sutter.

The 33-year-old—who went by Caleb on social media—received medical assistance at around 7 a.m. after finishing the race in just under two hours.

“He crossed the finish line in a very respectable time. It looks like he’s an experienced runner,” Sutter told The Epoch Times.

When he crossed the finish line, marathon personnel noticed Graves going into cardiac arrest and caught him before he collapsed.

“When you cross the finish line, the people that are there to monitor noticed that he was clutching or grabbing his chest, and they rushed to his side before he even collapsed. And they held him out and called paramedics, which were stationed right there at the finish line. And they were able to provide him lifesaving efforts within seconds,” Sutter said.

Anaheim fire and rescue personnel were on site and immediately treated Graves, who was taken to a nearby medical center, where he was pronounced dead.

“The battalion chief told me he could not have received medical care any faster. [The paramedics] were right there,” Sutter said. “They worked on him for [about] an hour to try to save his life, but they were unable to do so.”

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Disneyland spokesperson Jessica Good said, “We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and our hearts are with Caleb’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

While officials have not yet released a cause of death, Southern California was facing a triple-digit heat wave with an excessive heat warning in effect in the Los Angeles area.

Graves gained more than 18,000 followers on his popular TikTok page, where he shared content related to Disney, travel, entertainment, and film.

Just one day before the event, Graves shared his excitement about participating in the race, but warned his followers and those running with him about the extreme heat.

“Disneyland Half Marathon—the Halloween Half Marathon—is tomorrow, and I’m marginally worried now,” Graves said in a video. “I went outside today around 2 o'clock—which is probably the hottest part of the day—and it was 90-something degrees.”

Graves explained that growing up in Texas he developed a “susceptibility” to heat but pointed out that UV exposure in Southern California is “its own kind of beast.”

“I have some susceptibility, I don’t know if it’s temporary or long-term, to heat. Because I was outside for like 20 minutes, walking my dog, and it was hot, but I felt fine ... and then like 10 minutes after I got back in, I just passed out,” he said.

“I just fell asleep—no control over my body. It was heat exhaustion. It’s only happened once to me before.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I really hope I get through the race tomorrow morning.”

Graves also posted at the pre-race event Sept. 6 showing clips of himself picking up his race number before reminding others of the extreme temperatures.

“If you’re running this weekend, remember it will be hot,“ he said. ”Stay hydrated and listen to your body. Good luck to all the runners!”

The Orange County Coroner’s Office is handling his autopsy.