Tributes have been paid to the two runners who died after collapsing at the finishing line of the Cardiff half marathon.
Ben McDonald, 25, and 32-year-old Dean Fletcher suffered cardiac arrests after taking part in Sunday’s annual race, which attracted 25,000 competitors.
It was the first time that Mr McDonald, from the Vale of Glamorgan, had taken part, while Mr Fletcher, from Exeter, chose to run for the second time, in the city where he met his wife Katie.
Both casualties were immediately attended to by the medical emergency team on the finish line and then taken to the University Hospital Wales in Cardiff where they later died.
“Ben grasped the challenge of the Cardiff half marathon with typical positivity as he set out to complete the race alongside girlfriend Amy, brothers Steve and Andrew, brother in-law Paddy and sisters-in-law Kate and Alix,” organisers said in a statement.
“He was supported by his mother Ruth, father Paul and sister Vicki, who gave their course-side encouragement.”
Mr McDonald had worked at the Cardiff white water centre since the age of 16, qualified as a teacher and was a keen bodyboarder, snowboarder and kayaker.
Organisers said Mr Fletcher, an accountant, graduated from Cardiff University with a first class honours degree in accounting and finance had returned to the Welsh capital to help raise funds as part of the 350-strong Team Cardiff group.
“His main focus and drive in life was his family and friends.
“Dean has been described as an ‘amazing husband and father’ as he leaves behind wife Katie and young daughter Evie,” organisers said.
Matt Newman, chief executive of Run 4 Wales, said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the families.
“The medical team and emergency services reacted to this terrible situation with great speed and professionalism.
“Everyone connected with the race is devastated.
“We are in close contact with the families and will continue to support them in every way we can.
“We ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”
Professor Karen Holford, deputy vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, added: “This news will come as a shock to everybody involved with Team Cardiff and indeed the whole Cardiff University community.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the families and friends involved.”
Since Run 4 Wales took over managing the event in 2012, there have been 116,049 finishers in what has grown to become the second biggest half marathon in the UK, behind the Great North Run in Newcastle.
– Mr McDonald’s family are raising money in his memory for a charity in Tanzania. Donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/in-memory-of-ben-mcdonald?utm_id=2&utm_term=abGVnaVnD
Mr Fletcher was running the race in aid of neuroscience and mental health research at Cardiff University and donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dean-fletcher6
