Tragedy strikes at Edinburgh city marathon

Published on Monday 24 May 2010 00:05

ONE runner died and 185 others were treated by paramedics yesterday as temperatures soared during Scotland's major marathon event.

Hundreds of runners took well over seven hours to complete the route of the Edinburgh Marathon, as temperatures rose to 21C. Ambulance crews had to rush to hospital 15 people who collapsed during the run, and many more required treatment because of the heat.

It is thought the male competitor who died had a heart attack within the first two hours of the race.

A spokesman for NHS Lothian confirmed one runner had died and said a further 15 participants had been treated in the accident and emergency unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "It was a very busy day for our staff, but we had dedicated resources along the route due to the hot weather. The number of people who were treated was pretty much in line with last year.

"The weather was a factor in most of the people who were treated, but there was a wide variety of conditions, such as dehydration, exhaustion and suspected fractures."

Huge crowds lined the route from Edinburgh city centre to Musselburgh Racecourse, in East Lothian, as 14,000 participants pounded the streets.

Organisers said there had been no repeat of the problems which dogged last year's race, when water stations ran out of supplies. A half marathon that started at 8am, two hours before the main event got under way, was held amid overcast conditions and even light showers.

Despite the hot conditions for the marathon itself, many runners wore fancy dress for the 26-mile course. The route took in London Road and Holyrood Park before heading towards the coast at Portobello and through East Lothian before finishing at the racecourse. Some 9,500 people completed the course – 1,300 more than last year – with a further 3,500 taking part in a fundraising relay.

Damien O'Looney, marketing director of the Edinburgh Marathon, said the organisers had been unaware of the runner who died, adding: "A lot of people did not enjoy the hot weather, and it was very similar conditions to last year.

"Around 100 people dropped out as far as we know, and we still had around 300 people on the course after the seven-hour mark.People did pretty well considering the conditions and there were huge crowds. "

One runner, Richard Bulmer, tweeted: "Edinburgh Marathon, 3.52.40, but last six miles were like running in a blast furnace."