The runner who died after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday has been named as council planner Nicholas Beckley.
The 35-year-old died at the University Hospital of Wales in the Welsh capital on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest and collapsing on the race’s finish line.
Mr Beckley, a keen runner and football player who had completed the event twice before, worked as a senior planner for Cardiff Council having originally moved to the city in 2003 to study at Cardiff University.
Today his brother Andrew Beckley described him in a statement as ‘a true gentleman’ and ‘family man’.
He said: ‘Although extremely proud to be from Devon and a country boy at heart, Nick was hugely passionate about Cardiff and saw it as his home.
‘Nick loved sport and in particular, football and running.
Council planner Nicholas Beckley, 35, has been named as the runner who collapsed and died at the end of the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday
‘Nick ran regularly, typically around Cardiff Bay, where he lived, and he had completed the Cardiff Half Marathon twice before. He was a big fan of the event and was so pleased to see how it has grown over the last few years.’
Matt Newman, CEO of Run 4 Wales, said the half marathon’s organisers would be supporting Mr Beckley’s family and his girlfriend, Natalie.
He said: ‘The thoughts of everyone connected with the race are with Nick’s family and friends at this difficult time.
‘The medical team and emergency services reacted with great speed and professionalism to his collapse on the finish and he received specialist medical care within a minute of finishing.
‘We will remain in close contact with the family and will continue to support them in every way we can.’
A record field of 27,500 runners took part in the 13.1 mile course around the Welsh capital on Sunday.
Nicholas Beckley, who died shortly after crossing the finish line of the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday, pictured with girlfriend Natalie Noble
Yesterday Mr Beckley was seen being treated at the course before being taken to University Hospital Wales where doctors were unable to save him.
His is the third runner death at the Cardiff Half Marathon in the last two years.
In 2018, Ben McDonald, 25, from Cardiff, and Dean Fletcher, 32, from Exeter, went into cardiac arrest and died shortly after crossing the finishing line within three minutes of each other.
After news of the death at this year’s race emerged, Mr McDonald’s family, who walked the event today in his memory, said they were ‘devastated’.
Mr Mcdonald’s brother, Drew, 35, said: ‘As a family we are shocked and devastated that another family has to go through the same process that we have been dealing with for the past year.’
Council planner Nicholas Beckley died after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday
Yesterday’s half marathon was the 17th time the race had taken place, with 27,500 taking part. More than half the competitors running the 13.1 mile course were women.
Run 4 Wales Chief Executive Matt Newman said: ‘Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of the runner who tragically passed away after taking part at the event.
‘The emergency services reacted to this terrible situation with great speed and professionalism. Everyone connected with the race is devastated.’
Ben McDonald, 25 (left), and Dean Fletcher, 32 (right), went into cardiac arrest and died shortly after crossing the finishing line within three minutes of each other at last year’s event
Matt Jukes, Chief Constable at South Wales Police, tweeted: ‘Terribly sad news. My thoughts are with all those affected.’
The organisers said everyone connected with the race was ‘devastated’ and a full review would be carried out.
Last year, Mr McDonald and Mr Fletcher both suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after completing the race.
Today’s half marathon was the 17th time the race had taken place, with 27,500 taking part
The organisers said everyone connected with the race was ‘devastated’ and a full review would be carried out following the death
Mr Fletcher collapsed in front of his wife and little girl moments after crossing the finishing line.
While McDonald, 25, ran the race with girlfriend Amy and needed medical help moments after crossing the tape.
Both men were taken to the University Hospital of Wales but could not be saved. They did not know each other.
Mr Fletcher, an accountant, was described as an ‘amazing husband and father’ to wife Katie and daughter Evie, had completed the Cardiff Half Marathon previously.
Mr McDonald died after running the Cardiff half marathon in 2018
Mr McDonald had set off with his girlfriend Amy Stanton-Foo (pictured), 22, on the run
Mr McDonald, from the Vale of Glamorgan, worked at the Cardiff White Water Centre since he was 16. He was a qualified teacher and a keen bodyboarder, snowboarder and kayaker.
It was his first Cardiff Half Marathon and he was running alongside his girlfriend Amy, his brothers Steve and Andrew and three other family members.
His parents Ruth and Paul and sister Vicki stood along the route to cheer Ben and his running mates on.
More than 25,000 people took part in the race last year which started at Cardiff Castle
This year, Mr McDonald’s family walked the half marathon in memory or Mr McDonald to support the work of Welsh Hearts, who strive to install defibrillators and to offer heart screenings all across Wales.
Mr McDonald had no history of heart disease. However, hundreds die every year due to undetected heart defects.
In June this year, Wilsern Ong, 20, fell ill at the 13-mile mark of the Swansea Half Marathon and was treated by medics.
Malaysian-born Mr Ong was taken to hospital but pronounced dead after collapsing yards from the finish.
In June this year, Wilsern Ong, 20, fell ill at the 13-mile mark of the Swansea Half Marathon and was treated by medics