Woman dies whilst running London Marathon

[Marc]

The London Marathon runner who collapsed and died at the end of yesterday's race has been named online as Claire Squires.

The 30-year-old hairdresser, who according to the London Evening Standard, was from from North Kilworth Leicestershire, fell to the ground as she made her way along Birdcage Walk, near St James' Park, on the final stretch of the 26.2 mile course.

Tests to establish her cause of death are expected to take place in the coming days. She is the 10th person to die taking part in the London Marathon since it started in 1981.

Claire Squires raised almost £650 for charity through her JustGiving.com page which features the words: "I'm running the london marathon for Samaritans because they continuously support others."

A statement on the London Marathon website said: "We would like to emphasise that our immediate concern is for the family of the deceased. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time."

The statement added: "We will not be releasing any further details of this tragic incident until next of kin have been notified and formal identification has taken place. We would ask for your understanding in this matter."

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.

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.
:shocked:

[Shaun]

We will not be releasing any further details of this tragic incident until next of kin have been notified

So they released the name before they told the next of kin? :|

that's so tragic. R.I.P. :(

[Z]

Such a shame!

[Flamingjoe]

This is so sad.

[Marc]

So they released the name before they told the next of kin? :|

that's so tragic. R.I.P. :(

Well the news story I got it from said "Woman who died at Marathon is named"

So I guess it's just an updated article they balls up

[Maia]

Aww that's awful :(

[Jake.]

Terrible!

[thesheriff443]

not nice,someone local to where i live died about three weeks ago running a marathon
just crossed the line then collapsed.

[bbfan1991]

Tragic news:(, condolences to her family!

[Marc]

She was just trying to be giving as well :(

[Mystic Mock]

That's sad news.

R.I.P

[Redway]

That's so sad. I know these incidents are very rare, but it's still sad. She was doing the marathon for an extremely good cause, too. My deepest sympathies go out to her family right now. That's life, though. Just brush it off and be safe, I guess.

[Kizzy]

Poor lass, :(

[MTVN]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17810769

Good to see that donations to her charity have rocketed since the news, 2,800 people gave money this morning apparently. It's scary how this can happen from just pushing yourself too hard though, I remember one year in the Great North Run 4 people died

[chathappyforum]

Thats so sad bless x x x

[Mrluvaluva]

So sad that somebody died whilst trying to do good for others.

"Thousands of people made donations on Monday, raising more than £200,000 for the Samaritans by the end of the day."

While her family will be devastated at her passing, I bet they are very proud of her also.

[Glenn.]

This is the site to donate.

http://www.justgiving.com/Claire-Squires2

Over half a million raised already.

[GypsyGoth]

:sad:

I'd like to run a marathon one day.

[Iceman]

£560,098.50, raised
49847, donations


:o

[Iceman]

£560,098.50, raised
49847, donations


:o

[Patrick]

Shame how close she was to finishing it.

[Glenn.]

/facepalm

[elsiemay]

My heart goes out to her family.So verry sad.

[Novo]

£723,419.76
raised

63,263
donations

[Mrluvaluva]

The family of a London Marathon runner who died during the race are to decide how money raised in her memory will be spent, as donations soar beyond £700,000.

Claire Squires, 30, who was running to fundraise for the Samaritans charity, collapsed just one bend from the finishing line on Sunday and died at the scene.

Before news of her death spread, she had raised £500 through JustGiving but after the tragedy friends and strangers flocked to the site to donate.

The total has now soared to more than £720,000 as some 60,000 people pledged money in a JustGiving record. With Gift Aid, it takes the figure past £880,000.

The family of Miss Squires, a hairdresser from North Kilworth in Leicestershire, said they were amazed by the response.

"Claire's family have been incredibly moved by the measure of support and donations from the public, and are amazed by the amount raised so far, which continues to rise," a spokesman for the Virgin London Marathon said.

"These donations are a lasting testament to their beloved daughter and the cause in which she believed so passionately."

The charity, which Miss Squires' mother had volunteered with for 24 years, said it had created a tribute fund for the money raised.

"We are truly humbled by the reaction from the public following Claire's tragic death, and are overwhelmed by the support they have shown," Catherine Johnstone, the chief executive of the Samaritans, said.

"At an appropriate time we will be speaking to Claire's family about what they feel she would have liked these donations to fund."

JustGiving, which usually takes a 5% administration charge from donations, has waived its fee.

Tuesday saw a record-breaking number of visits to website, with up to 10,000 people on the site at any one time.

It says people from as far away as Afghanistan and Argentina have given money through the page, with an average donation of £11.

Miss Squires was a keen fundraiser, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in support of the RAF in 2010, raising £1,500 along with a friend.


Link (http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16216418)

[lostalex]

i can't believe she's only the 10th to die in the history of it. it seems like at least 3 people die every year in the NY marathon.

[Glenn.]

That's because the majority of Americans are morbidly obese:idc:

[Shaun]

-shelters Glenn-

[Mrluvaluva]

A woman whose supporters helped raise more than £1m for charity after her death in this year's London Marathon will be buried next to her brother later.

Family and friends of Claire Squires will attend a private funeral service at St Andrew's Church in North Kilworth, Leicestershire, this afternoon.

The 30-year-old collapsed and died less than a mile from the finishing line of the 26.2-mile course on Birdcage Walk near Buckingham Palace on April 22.

Claire was running for the Samaritans, for whom her mother had worked as a volunteer for 24 years.

Donations to Miss Squires' JustGiving website leapt from £500 to more than £1m in the week following her death.

The hairdresser will be buried alongside her brother Grant following the service, which is due to begin at midday.

The funeral service, expected to last up to 40 minutes, will be conducted by the Rev Emma Davies, the parish vicar, alongside local Baptist minister Pastor Johnny Hutton.

Two hymns chosen by the family will be sung during the service and prayers said.
Miss Squires' parents, Cilla and Paul, will attend the service with her three sisters, Maxine, Nicola and Penny, and her partner Simon Van Herrewege.

The church seats 150 people but arrangements have been made to broadcast the service to well-wishers outside via a speaker system.

The family has asked that only relatives and friends send flowers and that donations in lieu are made to the Rainbows Children's Hospice in Loughborough, Leicestershire.


Sky (http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16220142)


R.I.P.