MasterChef semi-finalist, 29, dies running marathon – then charity cash thousands f lood in
A MASTERCHEF semi-finalist has died after collapsing during the hottest London Marathon on record.
Matt Campbell, who starred in MasterChef: The Professionals last year, was running in honour of his father Martin, who died 18 months ago.
The 29-year-old was only four miles from the finish when he collapsed during Sunday’s race, as temperatures reached 24.1C (75.4F).
Just ten minutes before the race he had posted a photo of himself with fellow MasterChef contestant Tom Peters on Instagram, captioned: ‘Let’s do this!’
Donations to Mr Campbell’s JustGiving page soared within minutes of his death being announced, with more than £60,000 raised by last night.
On it he had described his father as ‘the most inspirational man in my life’.
The marathon was the professional chef’s second in two weeks, having completed a race in Manchester in under three hours on April 8.
But he collapsed at the 22.5 mile mark of the London Marathon, which he was running for the Brathay Trust, a Cumbria-based charity that helps improve the life chances of children, young people and families. He was taken to Barts Heart Centre but was later pronounced dead. His cause of death was not immediately clear.
The temperature at St James’s Park reached 24.1C (75.4F) on Sunday, the highest since the marathon was first run in 1981. About 100 runners were taken to hospital for serious heat-related conditions. Mr Campbell’s death means 12 runners have died in the race’s 37-year history.
According to his website, Mr Campbell, who was from the Lake District, began his career in Michelin-starred kitchens after finishing second on BBC Young Chef of the Year aged 20 in 2009. He spent the next eight years travelling the world and working in private villas and ski chalets. He returned to the UK last year and entered MasterChef: The Professionals.
Of running the London Marathon, he wrote on Instagram in February: ‘Words can’t describe how honoured and humbled I feel to be asked to run this year’s @londonmarathon … in memory of my father, Martin Campbell…It’s been almost 18 months since I lost my dad and this has been the most challenging period of my life. One thing that has helped me immensely is running and he inspired me to undertake my first marathon (Brathay) in 2016.
‘I would never have believed two years on I would have the opportunity to represent such an incredible charity at such a prestigious event. Fundraising for Brathay with the proceeds going towards their memorial appeal in my father’s name.’
Yesterday his family paid tribute to an ‘inspirational son and brother, who was a keen marathon runner’. A MasterChef spokesman said: ‘We are shocked and saddened to hear the news about Matt Campbell, one of our talented contestants from last year. It was a privilege to have him on the show.’
Michelin-starred chef and MasterChef: The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing wrote on Twitter: ‘It is with huge sadness that I received the news of Matt Campbell’s untimely death. He was a talented, innovative and driven chef with a bright future.’
Food critic Jay Rayner said: ‘Awful news. I presented Matt with an award for outstanding achievement at last month’s Cumbria Life Food and Drink Awards. He was clever…hugely creative and innovative.’
London Marathon said: ‘With deep sadness, we confirm the death of a participant in the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon. Matt Campbell, aged 29…collapsed at the 22.5 mile mark and, although he received immediate medical treatment on the scene from race doctors, he died later in hospital.’ The Brathay Trust said: ‘Matt and his family have been tireless in supporting the work of Brathay Trust and our thoughts…are with them.’
‘Running in memory of my father’