Rick Hoyt Cause of Death

Boston Marathon icon, Rick Hoyt has died. He died at the age of 61 on May 22, 2023. According to a statement from the family, he passed away due to complications with his respiratory system. The statement further said that the family is heartbroken and requests time to grieve and will share details as they become available.

He was a longtime staple on the Boston course, pushed in his wheelchair by his father Dick for decades. Rick had cerebral palsy, which left him a quadriplegic. In 1997, he told his father, Dick that he wanted to take part in a charity run for a lacrosse player who was paralyzed in an accident.

Dick pushed Rick for the race, after which he told his father, “When I’m running, I don’t feel handicapped”. Over the next few decades, the Hoyts completed more than 1000 races together, including 32 Boston Marathons. When Dick retired from running, other athletes kept Rick in the race for four additional Boston Marathons.

Dick announced his retirement in 2021.