Gordon Ramsay rescued after collapsing at Ironman event

Ramsay prepares his bike in the race before collapsing. Picture: AP

The celebrity chef was competing in the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii when he fell violently ill.

He had completed a 2.4-mile swim and a 112-mile bicycle race before embarking on the final stage, a 26.2-mile marathon.

The 48-year-old told how he vomited several times during the cycle before his body “shut down” during the marathon as temperatures topped 49C.

He had to be assisted off the course in the Kona district of the island by official race medical teams and local police officers.

In a Facebook post following the race, Ramsay, who was competing to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, vowed to return next year to complete the course.

He said: “Hi guys, didn’t happen this year. During my bike ride I threw up several times and wasn’t able to keep anything down, making me dehydrated.

“I thought I’d be able to push through the marathon, but my body just shut down.

“Thank you to the Ironman medical staff who assisted me as well as to the Hawaii Police Department.

“Thanks again for all your support and a big congratulations to the all of this year’s participants. I will be BACK!!!! Gx.”

Lorraine Trester, who was watching Ramsay in the event, replied: “We were concerned not knowing what happened to you after cheering you on from the bike to run transition.

“It’s been the hottest year since living here, making this tough, brutal race even harder.

“The Ironman staff we talked to were thrilled to meet you and impressed with how nice and kind you were with them. Don’t be disappointed, you are a true champion and Ironman.

“Wishing you a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you compete again.”

In an interview last year, Ramsay revealed he took up extreme exercise because he did not want the pressure of cooking to kill him.

The Scot told how he feared for his health following the deaths of other leading chefs who have struggled with the demands of running restaurants.

He cited the example of David Dempsey, the head chef of his flagship London restaurant, who fell to his death from a block of flats in 2003.

An inquest heard that the 31-year-old protégé of Ramsay had suffered a bad reaction to cocaine and had been acting bizarrely before the tragedy.

Ramsay told how he uses marathon running, cycling and swimming as a release from operating his restaurant empire.

He said: “I don’t think I’ve slowed down. But I’m not working harder, I’m working smarter; that’s an important turning point for every chef.

“I don’t want to stand there and sweat and panic and worry - I want a life outside the kitchen. I’m in the best shape of my life.

“I keep myself fit. Last year I did my first Ironman in Hawaii - it’s a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, then a marathon. I found time for myself.”

The Ironman World Championship has been held each year in Hawaii since 1978 and is the culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon qualification races held throughout the world.