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A professional chef has died in hospital after collapsing while running in the London Marathon, race organisers say.
Matt Campbell, 29, received medical treatment immediately after collapsing 36 kilometres into the race, in what proved to be the event's hottest year on record, with the mercury reaching 24.1 degrees Celsius.
In a statement, organisers said the exact cause of Mr Campbell's death was not known yet known.
The former contestant in the United Kingdom's Masterchef: The Professionals, television series was a keen marathon runner who ran a new personal best time of two hours, 56 minutes and 50 seconds in the Manchester Marathon two weeks ago.
Mr Campbell said running had helped him recover from the death of his father in 2016.
"Running has been amazing for me over the past 2 years, considering I only ran my first marathon 20 months ago, it's helped me through grief, helped me de-stress, helped me process information after a long day and helped me menu plan!" he wrote on Instagram.
"To anybody considering even entering a 5K this year I say go for it. Life happens outdoors."
Extra water, ice, showers and medical stations were made available to runners through the 42.2-km course; however, water did run out at some points during the race.
Sunday's weather beat the marathon's previous highest temperature of 22.7C set in 1996, which was almost overtaken in 2007 when it peaked at 22.6C.
As the forecast had already predicted to surpass the record, participants were warned to reconsider dressing up in fancy costumes.
"Anyone wearing fancy dress, look at whether it's appropriate in the conditions. If you think it's not appropriate, don't do it in fancy dress," race director Hugh Brasher said last week.
"People are urged to wear sunscreen and appropriate clothing. Listen to your body. Change your race plan."
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge won the main event for the third time, completing the course in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 27 seconds.
The risks of marathon running were painfully clear earlier this month when Scotland's Callum Hawkins collapsed during the men's marathon at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Hawkins looked to have secured his gold medal when he opened a lead of more than two minutes over Australia's Michael Shelley.
But just two kilometres from the finish line and as the temperature rose to 28C, Hawkins succumbed to the heat.
After falling, the 25-year-old tried more than once to get back on his feet before crashing into a bridge railing and collapsing on the road.
He was treated at the scene before being taken away in an ambulance.
Team Scotland later said medical staff had "no major concerns" about his condition.
ABC/AP
Topics: marathon, sport, charities, england
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