Prodigy star raced in run two days before he was found dead

MUSICIAN KEITH Flint took part in a 5k run two days before he was found dead – and recorded a personal best time.

The Prodigy vocalist (inset) was found dead at his home in Essex on Monday morning, and police have confirmed that his death was not suspicious.

Flint, who was 49, competed in the 5k Chelmsford Central parkrun on Saturday, posting a personal best time of 21.22.

Organisers described Flint as “one of our newer runners”, adding: “We wished he could have been part of our parkrun community for longer than he was.

“Our condolences and thoughts go to his family and friends at this sad time.”

Queen’s Brian May shared a story online about a backstage meeting with Flint, whom he had assumed would “hate us”.

However, May said: “So I just nodded in respect when I saw him at the other side of the stage while the gear was being changed over.

“He ran straight over and did that Wayne’s World tongue in cheek bowing thing, and then spent a good five minutes telling me very warmly how much he loved our music and had been inspired by it in his life. After that, I perceived him very differently. And I enjoyed their records even more! But that’s the only conversation we ever had.”

Flint was a tour de force in the British rave music scene in the 1990s, known for his bright green spiky hair, facial piercings and energetic stage performances. He rose to fame as part of Brit Award-winning electronic band The Prodigy, whose hits include Firestarter and Breathe.

They released their latest album No Tourists in November, their seventh consecutive number one.

On Monday afternoon, a bouquet of purple flowers was laid by the gate next to Flint’s Grade II listed home, which is located down a rural track and hidden behind wooden gates. Bandmates Liam Howlett and Maxim described Flint as “a true pioneer, innovator and legend”.

In a separate post, Howlett said that “our brother Keith took his own life over the weekend”.