A MAN in his early fifties has died while taking part in his first marathon.
The runner, who is from Northern Ireland, fell ill around five-and-a-half miles into yesterday's Belfast Marathon.
He collapsed on the Sydenham Bypass, just before 10am. It is understood fellow runners tried to revive him before paramedics arrived.
The man later died at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. A post mortem examination is due to be carried out within days.
DUP Belfast councillor Brian Kingston, who is a keen marathon runner, said he was saddened by the news.
"My understanding was that this was his first marathon but he was someone who was reasonably fit," he said.
Mr Kingston said David Seaton, chairman of the marathon board, and another senior marathon manager visited the man's family in hospital to express their condolences.
"At this stage we do not know if there was an underlying medical condition," he said.
