Great North Run death: Participant dies at event

Organisers are working to inform the runner's next of kin

The Red Arrows are seen flying over the Tyne Bridge during the 2015 Morrisons Great North Run, Newcastle. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday September 13, 2015. (Steve Drew/PA Wire)

A runner taking part in the Great North Run has died at the event, organisers have confirmed.

The organisers of the event, attended by tens of thousands of runners, confirmed the incident but did not name the person.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “Very sad to advise that a participant died at the Great North Run today.”

“The Great Run Company deeply regrets the loss of life of a participant at the Great North Run today and offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the individual.

The spokesman added that the organisation's priority was to inform the next of kin of the person who died, and said it would not be able to offer any further updates on Sunday.

An estimated 57,000 people took part in the 13.1miles half marathon which starts in Newcastle, spans over the Tyne Bridge, through Gastehead and onto the coast at South Shields.

Olympic champion Mo Farah was among the athletes to take part in the event, which is also attended by amateurs, and won the men's event for a second year in a row.

Mo Farah celebrates after winning the men's elite race (Image: AFP) (AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFFOLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

Kenyan athlete Mary Keitany meanwhile won the women's race, and David Weir won the elite wheelchair competition for the sixth time.

Professor Brian Cox, Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell, TV presenter Steph McGovern and former footballer Kevin Kilbane were among the high-profile figures to take part in the run.

Around £25million is expected to have been raised by fundraisers attending the event.

Additional reporting by PA