Runner, 29, dies 1km before finish line at Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore

A 29-year-old man participating in the half marathon in yesterday's Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore died during the run.

He collapsed 1km away from the finish line at the Padang.

The Straits Times Online reported that the man is believed to Mr John Gibson, a Briton living in Hong Kong.

Race organiser Ironman Asia's managing director Geoff Meyer said the runner was immediately attended to and sent to the hospital in an ambulance.

Mr Meyer said: "Our main priority and focus is on his family. We are working with them to see how they can be fully supported, (we are) doing everything we can possibly do."

Sport Singapore extended its condolences to the runner's family and friends, and said it will continue to work with the organiser to provide assistance to his family.

This year's event drew about 46,000 participants.

ORCHARD ROAD

For the first time also, the half and full marathons flagged off simultaneously in Orchard Road at 4.30am.

The runners were later joined by participants of the 10km race, which started at 6.45am in Esplanade Drive. All races finished at the Padang.

This is the second death in the 15-year history of the marathon here.

In 2011, 22-year-old Malcolm Sng Wei Ren died after completing a half marathon.

A coroner's court later determined that he had died from acute coronary insufficiency and had an abnormal coronary artery which had been previously undetected.

This article by The Straits Times was published in The New Paper, a free newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.