Comrades runner Moira Harding rules out return to Comrades next year following harrowing ordeal

IOL News

a day ago

Moira Harding, was found on Mahatma Gandhi (formerly Point) Road in Durban on Monday morning after going missing on Sunday June 8.
Image: Comrades Marathon Facebook page
While Moira Harding, the Comrades Marathon runner who went missing after completing the 2025 instalment of the Ultimate Human Race last month, is happy to be alive, she confirmed to IOL that she has no plans to return to run the gruelling race again next year.
Moira has since returned to Cape Town where she is recovering.
Three weeks ago, IOL was the first news outlet to report that the 54-year-old runner had gone missing. At the time, IOL reported that Harding completed the race just before 5pm and had not been seen since.
This kicked off a massive search for the 54-year-old Kommetjie runner.
Moira Harding completed the race in close to 11 hours.
Image: Facebook
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Hours later, Harding was found near the Point Waterfront area, thanks to the ICE or In Case of Emergency bracelet she had around her wrist. Workers who found her were able to contact Harding's husband and the necessary emergency services attended to her.
Garrith Jamieson of ALS Paramedics said paramedics, police, and Metro Police were called to the scene where Harding was found in a critical condition. She was airlifted to a hospital in uMhlanga.
In a post on her social media, Harding thanked all those who helped search for her.
"I went missing at the end of the Comrades Marathon and was found 15 hours later, unconscious and unresponsive due to severe dehydration and extremely low sodium levels resulting in disorientation and delirium," she explained.
Harding said the prayers of those who supported and prayed for her carried her through one of the toughest moments of her life.
"A special, heartfelt thanks to the people who found me and alerted the emergency services, to Brigadier Saunders, the police teams and staff at Netcare uMhlanga, I couldn't have wished for better care or more compassionate professionals. You saved my life," Harding said.
Harding further shared a special tribute to her husband, children and family who searched high and low for her.
Advanced Life Support Paramedics treated Moira Harding on scene before she was airlifted to hospital
Image: ALS Paramedics