Scottish athlete Callum Hawkins collapses as he leads Commonwealth Games marathon
Written by News on 15/04/2018
Scottish athlete Callum Hawkins has been taken to hospital after dramatically collapsing while leading the Commonwealth Games’ marathon.
The 25-year-old was just over a mile from the end of the race in Australia’s Gold Coast when he began weaving across the road and fell to the ground.
He struggled for a number of minutes without medical attention in distressing scenes in the 27C (80F) heat, before eventually being taken away in an ambulance.
Hawkins, who had a lead of 41 seconds at the time of his fall, was passed by Australia’s Michael Shelley who won the race.
In a statement posted to Twitter after the race, Team Scotland said: “Callum has been taken to hospital for medical review following his collapse in the Marathon as is standard procedure. He is being supported by Team Scotland medical staff & there are no major concerns at this stage. More information to be issued in due course.”
During the event, BBC commentator and former athlete Steve Cram said it was “a disgrace” it took so long for any paramedics to attend to Hawkins.
“This is a guy in real distress and someone needs to recognise it for his health at this point,” he said.
“Where on Earth is the help? You cannot just wait at the finish line. They’ve got radios. And finally somebody arrives. I think it’s disgraceful.”
Former marathon runner Paula Radcliffe said there were “big questions to answer” over the medical response, adding: “That should never happen.
“The marathon is brutal and a heart breaker but there is a lot more to come from this brave champion.”
Mark Peters, chief executive of Games’ organisers GOLDOC, promised to investigate the lack of immediate on-course medical care for Hawkins.
“Obviously we need to check the facts. We can’t have medical people on every corner of the road,” he said.
“Certainly there’s no reason for a deliberate delay.”
Hawkins, who finished fourth in the World Championships last year, was looking set to claim his first major medal.
Uganda’s Munyo Solomon Mutai finished the marathon in second place, with Robbie Simpson of Scotland claiming the bronze.
(c) Sky News 2018: Scottish athlete Callum Hawkins collapses as he leads Commonwealth Games marathon
