30 year old woman dies during London Marathon

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"

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.