'Andy was really fit' - mystery over Kilomathon runner's sudden death

TRIBUTES have been paid to a charity runner who collapsed and died during a long-distance race near Edinburgh.

• Above, Andy Dunne, front row, far left, with friends taking part in a Tough Guy Challenge earlier this year. The kilomathon route took runners over the Forth Road Bridge

Andy Dunne, 25, died while taking part in Scotland's first ever kilomathon road race - a 26.2 kilometre (16.3 mile) race which began and ended at the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston on Sunday.

Mr Dunne, a sales representative with soft drinks giant Coca-Cola, collapsed in the main street in the village of Kirkliston in the latter stages of the race, which had attracted more than 2,000 competitors.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to St John's Hospital, Livingston where he was pronounced dead.

He had become engaged to be married and it is understood his fiance, who is from Aberdeen, had travelled to Edinburgh to watch him compete in the race.

Mr Dunne, who was originally from Ireland, worked for Coca-Cola as a salesman in Aberdeen and had competed in a number of endurance events to help raise money for charity. In February he and eight friends competed in the gruelling Tough Guy Challenge in Wolverhampton to raise money for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS).

The race included eight miles of cross country running, two miles of continuous obstacles including full water submersion, fiery hay bales, barbed wire, and electric fences.

Paul Corrigan, senior fundraising manager in the North of Scotland for CHSS, had trained with Mr Dunne and his friends in the run-up to the Wolverhampton event.

He said yesterday: "We are all extremely sorry to hear this sad news. Andy and his pals from Aberdeen tackled a gruelling obstacle course called the ultimate Tough Guy Challenge and raised well over 5,000 for CHSS."

He added: "I went for a training run with the guys and I was so impressed with their commitment and levels of fitness. My heart goes out to his family and friends."

A close friend of the runner, who did not wish to be named, described Mr Dunne as a "typical Irish lad" who always had a smile on his face.

He said: "I was very sorry to hear about Andy. A friend was with him down in Edinburgh and he called me from the hospital to say Andy had collapsed. His fiance is still down in Edinburgh too. It is such a shock."

He added: "Andy was a really fit guy, always smiling and always encouraging others who were not as fit as him to push themselves. He was always there to encourage you to push personal boundaries and to praise you for trying.

"He was a typical Irish lad - always with a smile on his face and really happy.

"The training sessions for the Tough Guy Challenge were physically and psychologically one of the hardest things you can do.Andy was there to help and encourage the other guys who were less experienced than him - he was just that type of guy."

A spokesman for GSi Events, the race organisers, said: "The GSi Events team would like to convey their deepest sympathy to the runner's family and friends."