New York: Two runners died after completing the New York City Marathon, one shortly after crossing the finish line and the other several hours later.

Carlos Jose Gomes, a 58-year-old Brazilian, had just completed the race on Sunday when he complained about feeling ill, police said.

He was taken by ambulance to a Manhattan hospital, where he died. The cause was a heart attack, the medical examiner s office said yesterday. The identity and cause of death of the other runner were not disclosed.

At least two other competitors became ill during the run and had to be hospitalised. More than 38,000 runners took part.

"There's nothing harder for us than when one of our participants doesn't make it home at the end of the day," said Mary Wittenberg, president of New York Road Runners, the race organizer. "We express our deepest condolences to the athletes families."

The previous fatality at the race was in 1994, she said.