Mother of two dies in gruelling endurance night race
A MOTHER of two has died after collapsing in a gruelling nighttime endurance event.
The 48-year-old fell ill while competing in the ten-mile Mighty Deerstalker obstacle race at Innerleithen, Peeblesshire.
She was pulled from one of the water obstacles in the Tweed around 6pm on Saturday and pronounced dead in the ambulance taking her to hospital.
Last night the woman was named as married mother-of-two Heather Foggo, understood to be from Morpeth, Northumberland.
Although the cause of death remains unknown, police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances.
Since it was launched in 2004, thousands of competitors from across the country have completed the exacting course.
This year’s event – billed as the ‘UK’s biggest night race’ – went through rivers, forests and mountains, with much of the terrain illuminated only by the runners’ head torches.
Around 2,000 people took part in the race, which started at 5.30pm. Mrs Foggo collapsed near the control station around a mile from the start.
A medical team reached her within three minutes. An on-site medic and an off-duty paramedic attempted CPR before an ambulance arrived.
Yesterday, a spokesman for organiser Rat Race Adventure Sports said: ‘We are extremely saddened to confirm that a participant in our Mighty Deerstalker event passed away on Saturday. Rat Race Adventure Sports will give full assistance to the authorities.
‘Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased.’
One witness said: ‘There was a large group of spectators around the water crossing. The lady appeared to collapse and she was pulled on to the bank.
‘Medics tried to save her with CPR for around ten minutes before she was taken up the banking to the ambulance that had arrived.
They continued to try to save her at the top of the banking before she was put into the ambulance.
‘It was a terrible tragedy and the people who were trying to save the woman couldn’t have done any more.’
Fellow runners yesterday posted tributes online.
David Crawford wrote: ‘I mostly feel bad for thinking her mates were going to be raging that she had taken a stumble 1km into the race, then you find out how devastating the whole situation was.
‘I can’t imagine what it will feel like for her family and friends who were there.’
Another runner, Julia O’Reilly, commented: ‘We saw this and the first-aiders and paramedics really gave their all to save this person. So sad, thoughts go out to their loved ones.’
Having wished the participants luck only an hour before Mrs Foggo collapsed, the group Obstacle Course Racing Scotland also paid tribute to her.
In a message on Facebook, it said: ‘Tragic news to wake up to this morning. Our thoughts with her family, friends also to marshalls and first aid crews.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Inquiries are continuing, however there appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding this death and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.’