Donations made in memory of runner who died while taking part in marathon

Sam Harper Brighouse, from London, is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest at about the 16-mile mark of the Brighton Marathon on Sunday. Attempts were made by medical staff, paramedics and an off-duty police officer to resuscitate him before he was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery, but he died a short time later.

Hundreds of people have made donations to his justgiving.com page with the total approaching the £5,000 mark – well above his intended fundraising target of £500.

His site states that he had embarked on the challenge to raise money for the Arms Around The Child charity which supports Aids orphans.

He wrote: “I’m running, jogging, crawling the Brighton Marathon for Arms Around The Child (UK) (formerly KCA UK) because I want to raise money for a good cause.”

A spokesman for organisers of the marathon said: “It is with regret that we can confirm that a competitor collapsed and later died competing in the Brighton Marathon.

“Our emergency plans were put in place and he was treated at the scene by senior doctors, nurses and paramedics before being taken by ambulance to hospital. Despite receiving immediate attention, the runner was later declared dead at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.”

He added: “We would like to express our sincere condolences to family and friends.”