Woman dies one mile into gruelling cross country race
Runner took ill as she waded through shallow water
A RUNNER has died after falling ill having completed less than a mile of a gruelling 10-mile cross country night race.
Emergency crews were called to the Mighty Deerstalker event in the Borders after the 48-year-old became unwell while wading through shallow water just before 6pm on Saturday.
One onlooker said she appeared to have a bleeding nose and be having “some kind of seizure”.
An on-site medic and an off-duty paramedic attempted CPR on the woman on the banks of the River Tweed, near Innerleithen Bridge, before an ambulance arrived.
Entrants watched as the casualty was wrapped in a silver foil blanket by first-aiders at the scene.
The woman, named as motherof-two Heather Foggo, a district nurse from Morpeth, Northumberland, died on the way to Borders General Hospital.
“It was a terrible tragedy and the people who were trying to save the woman couldn’t have done any more.” said one runner
The event, billed as the UK’s biggest night race, was being held at Innerleithen in Tweeddale.
Another runner who witnessed the incident said: “It was only 0.8 miles in and the water she was in was only knee high.
“It was scary stuff as she had just set off in the wave before us. She wasn’t doing anything strenuous at all really.”
Police searched the water and sealed off an area with tape as the race continued. Another runner said the after-race party continued with many unaware of what had happened.
A spokesman for organisers Rat Race Adventure Sports, said: “We are extremely saddened to confirm that a participant in our Mighty Deerstalker event passed away yesterday.
“The participant became unwell at 5.56 pm, approximately one mile into the event, close to our event control station and at the location of one of our safety marshals.
“A member of our medical team was on the scene within three minutes as we implemented our response protocols.
“They were assisted by an off-duty paramedic until the arrival of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Tragically, we have since learned that the individual passed away en route to hospital.
“Rat Race Adventure Sports will give full assistance to the appropriate authorities.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the deceased.”
The event, now in its 11th year, sees hundreds of participants tackle off-road terrain while wearing head torches.
Around 1,000 people are understood to have taken part in the endurance run where runners scramble over hills, and through mud and water hazards.
Many dress in countryside gear to add to a carnival atmosphere in the grounds of Traquair House.
Entrants are not allowed to race unless they bring a torch, and event organisers keep the race distance a secret from those running.
An anonymous testimonial on the event’s website states that the water wade was one of the “biggest individual challenges I’ve faced in races for a long time”.
The organisers state on the race’s website “The Mighty Deerstalker is as tough as it gets; hills, mud, swamp, darkness, rivers, obstacles and always devilishly vague on the true distance, this event never disappoints but it often hurts.”
Competitors also have free admission to festivities in a heated tent afterwards.
The organisers say that they aim to raise £1 million for the charity Children With Cancer UK by the end of 2018.
A police spokesman said officers had responded to a report of a woman having taken unwell during the event at 6.15pm on Saturday.
“The 48-year-old was treated by the Scottish Ambulance Service and was taken to Borders General Hospital. However, she passed away while en route.
“Inquiries are continuing, however there appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding this death.”
A report is to be sent to the procurator fiscal.
‘‘ It was scary stuff as she had just set off in the wave before us. She wasn’t doing anything strenuous