Two participants aged 25 have died after becoming unwell during the Great North Run, according to the event's organisers. Both men collapsed on the half-marathon course that connects Newcastle and South Shields on Sunday, and passed away despite receiving immediate medical attention from the event's on-site medical personnel.
The Great Run Company confirmed that both individuals were residents of the north-east region. A spokesperson for the organisation stated that the specific circumstances leading to their deaths would be established through formal investigation.
We are continuing to support their families during this incredibly difficult time, and our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who loved and knew them, the spokesperson said in a statement released following the incident.
About the Great North Run
The Great North Run is one of the UK's largest half-marathon events and has been held annually since 1981, making this year its 45th edition. The 2024 race attracted a field of 63,000 runners from across the country and beyond, all competing over the 13.1-mile route between the two Tyne and Wear cities.
What happens next
The causes of death for both participants will be determined through the appropriate investigative and medical processes in the coming weeks. The event organisers have pledged continued support to the bereaved families as they navigate this tragedy.
