Heartbroken girlfriend of runner, 25, who died at the Cardiff Half Marathon reveals they set off on the race together before he collapsed at the finish line
- Ben McDonald, 25, set off with his girlfriend on the run before collapsing at end
- He was one of two runners who died as they finished 13.1-mile race yesterday
- His girlfriend Amy said ‘words can’t describe heartbreak’ felt by his loved ones
- Mr McDonald’s parents were at his bedside when his life support was turned off
Ben McDonald, 25, collapsed after crossing the finish line of the Cardiff Half Marathon
The heartbroken girlfriend of a runner who died at the Cardiff Half Marathon paid tribute today to the ‘happy, smiley, adventurous, loving person.’
Ben McDonald, 25, set off with his girlfriend on the run before collapsing after crossing the finish line of the race.
He was one of two runners who died after suffering a cardiac arrest as they finished the 13.1-mile race yesterday.
His girlfriend Amy Stanton-Foo, 22, said ‘words can’t describe the heartbreak and devastation’ felt by his loved ones.
She said in a statement: ‘Yesterday morning Ben McDonald took part in the Cardiff Half Marathon with myself, all of his family and all of mine, either running or supporting.Ben finished the marathon in 1:52:37 but went into cardiac arrest and collapsed on the finish line.
‘He was taken to the emergency tent and treated accordingly before he was rushed to the heath hospital. He went on to life support but unfortunately the doctors couldn’t help him.
‘His parents were present when the life support was turned off, and my self and all of his siblings were there shortly after. From our knowledge he wouldn’t of suffered any pain, and when I went to say goodbye he looked peaceful.
Mr McDonald, 25, had set off with his girlfriend Amy Stanton-Foo (pictured), 22, on the run
‘I want him to be remembered for the happy, smiley, adventurous, loving person that he was – it’s what he would’ve wanted. Words can’t describe the heartbreak and devastation myself and his family are going through.’
Mr McDonald, from Cardiff, was rushed to University Hospital of Wales – and his devastated parents were at his bedside when his life support was turned off.
Friends and family are now raising money for the charity of the midwife who delivered McDonald as a baby.
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Money is being donated to ‘Maternity Africa’ – a charity in North Tanzania promoting safe childbirth. It is run by Jude Holden who delivered him 25 years ago.
In a message, Ms Stanton-Foo added: ‘It’s been an absolute honour to call you my boyfriend Benny, and I really can’t imagine my life without you. I love you, sleep tight.’
Another man, aged 32, collapsed at the finish line within just three minutes of Ben. He was being watched by his wife and one-year-old son in the race.
Mr McDonald was one of two runners who died after suffering a cardiac arrest as they finished the 13.1-mile Cardiff Half Marathon yesterday (pictured)
Organiser Matt Newman spent hours with both men’s families in hospital after the tragedy. He said: ‘You can only imagine how they are feeling – it is just awful.’
The deaths were the first fatalities in the race’s 15 year history – Britain’s second best-attended half marathon after the Great North Run.
Race organisers Run 4 Wales say they will carry out a full review but are ‘100 per cent satisfied’ in their medical plan.
Chief executive Mr Newman said: ‘The whole team is devastated and our priority is the families involved. We had a doctor and medical team at the finish line and were in attendance within seconds of the gentlemen collapsing.
‘They were able to take both to the primary medical centre 20 metres from the finish line and quickly transferred to hospital.’
About 20,000 runners took part in the half marathon.
Mr Newman said: ‘We are 100 per cent satisfied that there was nothing more that could be done by the team at Run 4 Wales or the medical professionals in place on the day.
‘We have a team of ten doctors in place and a huge deployment of medics and St John’s Ambulance around the 13.1-mile course. There’s an almost full A&E unit at the finish line and the medical team acted in complete professionalism.’
Mr Newman added: ‘I spent yesterday with the families of the deceased. It was a horrendous afternoon and something none of us wanted to live through.’
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