London Marathon: Heart attack kills runner

JOHN BAILEY, a 47-year-old engineer from Staffordshire, died after collapsing with a cardiac arrest six miles into the race near the Cutty Sark. He is only the second runner to have died during the race in its 12- year history.

His wife, Cynthia Bailey, 44, ran in the race as well. Mrs Bailey, a health worker, said: 'As someone involved in trying to prevent coronary heart disease, I know his way of life was correct in three areas. He ate sensibly, he exercised and he gave up smoking 20 years ago. That only leaves the genes and it would be unwise to speculate any further before the result of the post-mortem.'

Chris Brasher, the London Marathon founder chairman, said that Bailey was an experienced runner who had completed marathons before.