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30 year old woman dies during London Marathon

  • 23-04-2012 12:24pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭


    I couldn't find a thread on this already, but I just read this:

    http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/london-marathon-hairdresser-30-running-for-the-samaritans-dies-on-final-stretch-of-race-3088699.html
    London Marathon: Hairdresser (30) running for the Samaritans dies on final stretch of race
    By Independent.ie reporters and Murray Wardrop
    Monday April 23 2012

    A 30-YEAR-OLD woman collapsed and died in the final mile of the London Marathon.

    She was named on social networks as hairdresser Claire Squires, who had raised £500 for the Samaritans.

    Ms Squires was almost within sight of the finishing line when she fell to the ground on Birdcage Walk, near Buckingham Palace.

    She was one of more than 37,000 people who took part in the annual 26-mile race.

    From North Kilworth in Leicestershire, she had appealed for sponsorship on the website Justgiving.com saying: “'Hi guys, as you all know I am running the London Marathon. It was just going to be for fun, but it's a fab opportunity to raise money for my charity the Samaritans.

    'If everyone I know could donate £5 that would be a great help and change lives.'

    She was treated by medical teams positioned along the route before she was rushed to hospital by ambulance where she was later pronounced dead.

    Organisers said next of kin had been informed of the runner’s death but were not releasing further details out of respect for her family.

    A Marathon spokesman said: “It is with regret that we have learnt of the death of a competitor.

    “A 30-year-old woman collapsed at Birdcage Walk, and although immediate medical attention was provided to the casualty, the fatality was confirmed this afternoon.

    “The organisers of the Virgin London Marathon would like to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

    “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time.”

    The fatality occurred with the finishing line only one bend away.

    Birdcage Walk borders St James's Park and is the last road that runners have to travel before reaching Buckingham Palace where they turn onto The Mall on which the finish line is located.

    Competitors do not reach Birdcage Walk until after completing 25 miles of the marathon.

    Organisers said the woman collapsed during the midafternoon but were unable to give a precise time.

    St John Ambulance said it treated 4,850 people at the Marathon today while 30 people taken to hospital.

    The woman's death was the tenth since the London Marathon began in 1981.

    Five of the previous fatalities were a result of heart disease in runners apparently unaware that they had a problem. Four of these were cases of severe coronary heart disease.

    The last competitor to die was a 22-year-old fitness instructor in 2007.

    Prince Harry awarded prizes at the end of today's race praising the tens of thousands of fun runners and amateur athletes who completed the 32nd London Marathon.

    He joked that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge planned to run the 26.2 mile course next year.

    Kenyans Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany dominated the event, taking first place in the men’s and women’s races respectively.

    Kipsang won at his first attempt with a time of two hours four minutes and 44 seconds.

    Compatriot Mary Keitany retained her London Marathon title with a time of two hours 18 minutes and 36 seconds, setting a new national record in the process.

    A host of famous faces also took part in this year's run in support of good causes.

    The fastest female celebrity was Nell McAndrew, who broke down in tears after breaking the three hour mark, finishing with six minutes to spare.

    Rower James Cracknell was the only other celebrity to finish in less than three hours, crossing the line in two hours 59 minutes having recently recovered from a life-threatening head injury.

    Newsreader Sophie Raworth, who collapsed at the 23-mile mark in 2011, banished the memories of last year's marathon to finish the race in three hours 56 minutes.

    British Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls clocked a time of five hours and 33 minutes and revealed he would be celebrating with a well earned bitter.

    Today, a flurry of tributes and donations had been made on the page in the wake of the 30-year-old's sudden death.

    Rebecca Herity wrote: "Such an amazing girl! Miss you so much already! Beautiful angel xxx", while Jo Lovell also wrote: "Amazing lady!xxx".

    Friends also took to Twitter to pay tribute to Ms Squires, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in March to raise money for the the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), according to another JustGiving page.

    DaisyMilburn wrote: "R.I.P Claire Squires deeply saddening news & you'll be hugely missed. xx", and Callie Wright wrote: "RIP Claire Squires - lived life to the full. Only lady I know to take hair straightners up a mountain! xxxx RIP Bear xxxxxxxx"

    Shocking stuff. I suppose what was also scary was:
    The woman's death was the tenth since the London Marathon began in 1981.

    Five of the previous fatalities were a result of heart disease in runners apparently unaware that they had a problem. Four of these were cases of severe coronary heart disease.

    The last competitor to die was a 22-year-old fitness instructor in 2007.

    Did anyone here who did the London Marathon yesterday hear or see anything about this when you were over there?


«13

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    Shocking news. Surprised it was London rather than Boston that provided a story like this.


  • Registered Users Posts: 511 ✭✭✭EauRouge79


    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/9220155/Woman-30-dies-less-than-a-mile-from-London-Marathon-finishing-line.html

    Not the picture I was expecting to find. I guess you can be a fit as you like but an underlying condition can catch you out.

    I had a ECG carried out last year as part of a medical just for peace of mind

    Thankfully this is very rare. RIP


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭shels4ever


    Very sad news, Was actually a little shocked with the amount of people dropping and been treated over the last few miles. Seen 4-5 been taken off the course and about the same more having blood pressure taken.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Obviously sad, but 1 person dieing out of 37000 is not unexpected.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,800 ✭✭✭thirstywork2




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  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,510 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    Just looked at her charity page and noted she was trying to raise £500...well as of 2:27pm today she has over 22k on it

    http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Squires2

    Her previous charity event was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in March 2011 for the Royal Air Force, so far from unfit. Charity page for that was
    http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Squires1

    Very sad for it to happen but not all that unexpected to see a death with some many people at an event,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭JohnnyCrash


    Was strongly thinking of doing my first marathon this year at 48.This has put me rethinking:(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56,618 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    Ver sad, and very young. I am surprised there is not more fatalities in marathons with this amount entering. Many many elderly folks too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,402 ✭✭✭ger664


    Cabaal wrote: »
    Just looked at her charity page and noted she was trying to raise £500...well as of 2:27pm today she has over 22k on it

    http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Squires2

    And climbing. Its 28k now @ 2:55


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,724 ✭✭✭kennyb3


    RIP.

    The number of people treated is unbelievably high at 13% of the field.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭az2wp0sye65487


    ger664 wrote: »
    And climbing. Its 28k now @ 2:55

    £30,274 @ 15:06 :eek:

    Both amazing and sad at the same time....


  • Registered Users Posts: 830 ✭✭✭ocnoc


    £32k.... @15:15


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,510 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    £30,274 @ 15:06 :eek:

    Both amazing and sad at the same time....

    Certainly have to agree,
    I suppose when you think about it if she had died and had no charity page setup they'd likely be no money being raised and she'd only just be another news story.

    I suppose in this way at least something good can come from such a sad death


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Micilin Muc


    £100 a minute being donated at the moment :eek:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,065 ✭✭✭crazygeryy


    EauRouge79 wrote: »
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/london-marathon/9220155/Woman-30-dies-less-than-a-mile-from-London-Marathon-finishing-line.html

    Not the picture I was expecting to find. I guess you can be a fit as you like but an underlying condition can catch you out.

    I had a ECG carried out last year as part of a medical just for peace of mind

    Thankfully this is very rare. RIP

    Its a lot less rare than u think.imo anyone who does competitive/strenuous sports should have their heart checked out before they decide to do them.and I speak from experience.my heart problem was found completely by accident.
    Rip to the woman by the way.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Was strongly thinking of doing my first marathon this year at 48.This has put me rethinking:(
    Why?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 420 ✭✭dev123


    kennyb3 wrote: »
    RIP.

    The number of people treated is unbelievably high at 13% of the field.

    Is 13% higher than average?

    Is there any particular reason for the 13%? The weather looked perfect.

    Is it due to the large number of charity runners who might be undertrained and have been roped into it by friends and family?

    (Not insinuating that charity runners are undertrained - I've been severely undertrained and never ran for charity)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    dev123 wrote: »
    Is 13% higher than average?
    I guess it depends on what "treated" means. It could be as simple as giving someone a bottle of water and an energy bar because they can't go on.
    I wouldn't be at all surprised if one-eighth of the field had to stop due to cramping, knee/foot injury or hitting the wall.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭JohnnyCrash


    robinph wrote: »
    Why?
    Thought it was pretty obvious:D Then again,probably being over dramatic:eek:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,915 ✭✭✭✭menoscemo


    Thought it was pretty obvious:D Then again,probably being over dramatic:eek:

    1 person from 37,000 died during an 8 hour period.

    If you put 37k random people in a big room for 8 hours, the likelihood is that at least one would die. I think this is the point that Robinph was making.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭JohnnyCrash


    menoscemo wrote: »
    1 person from 37,000 died during an 8 hour period.

    If you put 37k random people in a big room for 8 hours, the likelihood is that at least one would die. I think this is the point that Robinph was making.
    Would probably be a lot less likely if they were'nt all running for 3 or 4 hours;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,915 ✭✭✭✭menoscemo


    Would probably be a lot less likely if they were'nt all running for 3 or 4 hours;)

    Really? I don't think so ;) In fact I reckon people running 3-4 hours are less likely to die than the average person ;)

    Again, I think you have missed the point.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,818 ✭✭✭nerraw1111


    Sad news.

    The donations to her page are flying up. Around £1,000 every couple of mins. £63,000 now.

    Of the 10 previous deaths at London, 5 were a result of heart disease that apparently the runners were unaware of.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Thought it was pretty obvious:D Then again,probably being over dramatic:eek:

    Do you believe that it is better for you health to not run?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,340 ✭✭✭TFBubendorfer


    Would probably be a lot less likely if they were'nt all running for 3 or 4 hours;)

    If you are a runner then:

    - you are MORE likely to die in the hours you are actually running.
    but
    - you are LESS likely to die in the hours you are not running.

    Overall, your life expectancy goes up if you're a runner. But this case illustrates how average life expectancy can mean very little in one specific case.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,546 ✭✭✭Peckham


    dev123 wrote: »

    Is 13% higher than average?

    Seems very high. It's broadly in line with the proportion treated by medics in Boston this year, and that was twice as high as the previous year due to the pretty extreme conditions.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭JohnnyCrash


    robinph wrote: »
    Do you believe that it is better for you health to not run?
    Dont think i implied that anywhere?


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Peckham wrote: »
    Seems very high. It's broadly in line with the proportion treated by medics in Boston this year, and that was twice as high as the previous year due to the pretty extreme conditions.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17811481
    BBC News wrote:
    During the 2012 London Marathon, 4,923 runners and members of the public needed assistance, but the bulk of these consultations were for minor concerns. In 2011, 6,000 needed help - many for heat exhaustion linked to the hot weather on the race day.

    Less people treated this year, but as said it will include anyone given any kind of assistance.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Dont think i implied that anywhere?

    So what were you saying then? :confused:
    Was strongly thinking of doing my first marathon this year at 48.This has put me rethinking:(


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,390 ✭✭✭The Big Red Button


    Very tragic, but the generosity being shown is amazing, and for such a worthwhile cause too! Over 92 grand raised now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,441 ✭✭✭Slogger Jogger


    RIP. Very tragic indeed. I've gotten out of the habit of doing the annual health check. Must get that sorted. A doctor's surgery I used to frequent in Wicklow did a check up with bloods and ECG for less than €100. Was worth the peace of mind particularly if there is a family history of one thing or another.

    Incidentally, I donated platelets today so a simple donation like this or the pint of blood is a nice easy way to get a basic health check.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,145 ✭✭✭baza1976


    menoscemo wrote: »
    1 person from 37,000 died during an 8 hour period.

    If you put 37k random people in a big room for 8 hours, the likelihood is that at least one would die. I think this is the point that Robinph was making.


    Therell be 100,000 people in the new camp tomorrow night watching Barca, with the majority there for 3 hrs or more. How many do you predict will die?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,915 ✭✭✭✭menoscemo


    baza1976 wrote: »
    Therell be 100,000 people in the new camp tomorrow night watching Barca, with the majority there for 3 hrs or more. How many do you predict will die?

    Depends on the result ;)
    Serioulsy though I was in Croke Park for a leinster final a few years ago and unfortunately witnessed a man have a heart attack and die right behind me. I guess it happens a lot at sporting events like that but those stories wouldn't make the news.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,084 ✭✭✭BeepBeep67


    baza1976 wrote: »
    Therell be 100,000 people in the new camp tomorrow night watching Barca, with the majority there for 3 hrs or more. How many do you predict will die?

    0.31 if they are there for 3hrs and the sample of 100,000 matches the average mortality rate for Spain which is 9 in 1000.


  • Registered Users Posts: 511 ✭✭✭EauRouge79


    From Cork Running Blog.

    "This has of course raised the subject in the mainstream press about how safe running a Marathon actually is? The reality is that fatalities are very rare. The 30-year-old woman who collapsed close to the finish line of the 2012 London Marathon is the 10th participant to die since the event began in 1981. Five of these were linked to heart conditions like blocked heart blood vessels or a structural congenital problem with the heart. Similarly, US research has looked at nearly 11 million runners who participated in marathons or half-marathons between 2000 and 2010. Over the decade, 59 of the runners had a cardiac arrest - where the heart stops working - and 42 of these people died. This means one death in every 259,000 runners. Most had underlying heart conditions or heart disease."

    Im going to continue my health checks but its certainly not going to stop me running.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,759 ✭✭✭belcarra


    Over £200,000 now donated.
    I wouldn't be surprised if it went over 1 million quid.
    A real shame what happened but what a legacy to leave!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,983 ✭✭✭TheRoadRunner


    Obviously sad news but in the same vein as mentioned before, what a generous way for people to show their sadness by donating to a good cause.

    On the health side of things. This death should not put people off running marathons but at the same time should remind everybody (runners/non-runners) that a regular health check is advisable.

    Regards the fatality stats. Brenadan foster said over 800,000 people have ran London since it's inception 31 years ago. I'd be interested to see a comparison to the number of amateur football players (or any other sport) who have died while playing weekend league football. I'm guessing the numbers would be the same in relative terms.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭JohnnyCrash


    Was strongly thinking of doing my first marathon this year at 48.This has put me rethinking:(
    robinph wrote: »
    Why?
    Thought it was pretty obvious:D Then again,probably being over dramatic:eek:
    robinph wrote: »
    Do you believe that it is better for you health to not run?
    Dont think i implied that anywhere?
    robinph wrote: »
    So what were you saying then? :confused:
    What i said was that it put me rethinking,thats not hard to undrstand is it? I cant see how you would take from that,that i believe it better for my health not to run? I run 35 miles per week so that knocks that on the head;),but i do it over 5 days.It simply put me rethinking about running most of it all at the one time,thats all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,687 ✭✭✭tHE vAGGABOND


    My medical insurance gives me a "comprehensive" medical check a year - and I always get it done [since I got healthy a few years ago anyway] - those of us putting our body under stress every day need to keep on top of these things.

    Interesting the articles I have read on this tragic subject always says that vast majority of deaths in marathons are due to undiscovered medical issues, many of which could have been addressed had they been known about.

    So this death really is tragic, but its a wake up call to those of us on here to ensure your body is in tip top shape - inside and out.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    What i said was that it put me rethinking,thats not hard to undrstand is it? I cant see how you would take from that,that i believe it better for my health not to run? I run 35 miles per week so that knocks that on the head;),but i do it over 5 days.It simply put me rethinking about running most of it all at the one time,thats all.

    That brings us back to my original question. Why has this made you re-think the idea of doing a marathon? Do you think you will die doing a marathon? Do you think you will die training for a marathon? What is the risk that you have suddenly become concerned about?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,567 ✭✭✭RoyMcC


    its a wake up call to those of us on here to ensure your body is in tip top shape - inside and out.

    I know what you mean but I still had to laugh. My 'tip top' shape never existed and it's further away than ever now. I still go out running and racing though without thinking the worst. If your time's up, off you go. And what better way to go than doing what you enjoy.

    If there's any comfort at all for the woman's family then that is it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,666 ✭✭✭Muppet Man


    Very Slightly off Topic:
    Interestingly the odds of dying (on average) any hour in Ireland are 1 in 1.1 million (Death rate 4 per hour).

    (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68634420&postcount=10)

    Back on Topic:
    I'm 39 and have a heart condition... PAC/PVC. I ran my first marathon last year and I'm running my second marathon in Kildare in May. Its as much about knowing and running within your limits as anything else. The benefits of running outweigh the risks, IMHO.

    Peace.
    Muppet Man.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,142 ✭✭✭rom


    robinph wrote: »
    That brings us back to my original question. Why has this made you re-think the idea of doing a marathon? Do you think you will die doing a marathon? Do you think you will die training for a marathon? What is the risk that you have suddenly become concerned about?

    "stress testing was used to 'screen' marathon entrants, two people would be killed during stress testing for every one athlete potentially saved" "If one assumes an average finishing time of four hours, the 800,000 figure projects a death rate of one per 200,000 marathon entrants, considerably lower than the earlier estimate of one in 50,000" Source article which seem well referenced http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/heart-attack-risks-are-greater-for-athletes-who-compete-in-endurance-sports-263


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    The donations are still flying in for the Samaritans. About £60,000 in the last hour since they had a spot on BBC Breakfast chatting with a couple of people from the charity as well. All the coverage in todays papers will make the donations continue to flood in today.


  • Registered Users Posts: 706 ✭✭✭MoonDancer


    Very sad tragedy.

    The donations are at :
    £290,862.02 raised
    26,157 donations





    Just amazing!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 872 ✭✭✭martyoo


    My medical insurance gives me a "comprehensive" medical check a year

    What is a comprehensive medical check? I'm doing my first marathon this year and need to get checked out.

    Is it enough to get bloods and an ECG done?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,199 ✭✭✭G-Money


    martyoo wrote: »
    What is a comprehensive medical check? I'm doing my first marathon this year and need to get checked out.

    Is it enough to get bloods and an ECG done?

    I'd suggest going to your GP and basically telling him/her what you've said above, see what they say and go from there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,533 ✭✭✭✭Krusty_Clown


    Marathons do not cause fatalities. Prolonged exercise with (potentially undetected) health concerns (such as issues related to the heart) is a risk. It's a very sad incident, but she may well have run into problems on a soccer pitch, playing tennis, or dancing in a night club. The difference is the level of media coverage when it occurs during a marathon (as marathons generate a lot of media attention).

    More and more people are running marathons every year, so the incident rates will go up (400k runners in the US in 2005 -> 518K in 2011). That doesn't mean that marathons are becoming more dangerous. It merely means that more people with health concerns are exposing themselves to risk.

    Some city marathons (e.g. Paris, Rome) require that you complete a medical examination and submit the results as part of your application. Others require that you complete an online questionnaire to establish if you are an at-risk individual (e.g. Berlin). If the media focus continues, then at some point we will all have to get medical clearance before running every marathon, which I personally wouldn't welcome (but may have highlighted this 30-year old's issues).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭huskerdu


    robinph wrote: »
    The donations are still flying in for the Samaritans. About £60,000 in the last hour since they had a spot on BBC Breakfast chatting with a couple of people from the charity as well. All the coverage in todays papers will make the donations continue to flood in today.

    It is a great way for people to honour her memory and I am very pleased for the Samaritans which I think are a fantastic organisation.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Figure is at £330k now, it'll easily hit £500k.

    To put that in perspective, £500k would represent 5% of the Samaritans total income for the year, or 15% of their voluntary donation income for the year...in 48 hours.


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