Iceland’s acting president has thanked paramedics who saved his life after he collapsed near the finish line of the London Marathon.
Richard Walker was running with fellow Icelander Simon Felstead to raise money for the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK.
In a post on Instagram, the 43-year-old said he fainted less than two miles from the finish line due to hyperthermic shock and that his body temperature was “42C and rising”.
“To be honest I didn’t train enough and worked too hard that day – maybe a bit of Everest arrogance,” he said, referring to his successful climb of the world’s highest mountain last year.
“I was there about half an hour later surrounded by an amazing team of doctors, covered in ice and all kinds of things stuck inside me.
He said of the St John Ambulance personnel, “I can’t thank them enough – they were the true heroes of the day and I owe them my life.”
Iceland’s Simon Felsted and Richard Walker running in the London Marathon. Photo: Simon Felstead/Instagram
Richard Walker, Acting President of Iceland
Walker was running his first marathon, but climbed Mount Everest in May last year to raise more than £1 million for The National Brain Appeal to build the world’s first rare dementia support centre.
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He said: “I am so amazed by all the people running marathons and all the inspiring stories behind people’s motivation to do so.
“It was very emotional to see all the donation efforts.”
More than 50,000 people ran the 26.2-mile London Marathon on Saturday, including politicians, character actors and costumed amateurs.
