A participant in the London Marathon, Steve Shanks, 45, from Nottinghamshire, finished the race in just two hours and 53 minutes on Sunday. Tragically, he died suddenly while traveling home after celebrating his accomplishment. His family and friends are now mourning the loss of their loved one.
The London Marathon organizers announced Shanks’ passing in a statement, and runners have been paying their respects.
Among them is Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, who also took part in the marathon and expressed her sadness upon hearing the news.
A spokesperson for the marathon organizers stated, “Everyone at London Marathon Events was deeply saddened to hear about the sudden death of Steve Shanks as he traveled home on Sunday, April 23, after taking part in the London Marathon. Steve, who was 45 and lived in Bingham, Nottingham, was a very experienced runner who had completed many marathons and finished on Sunday in 2:53:26. The cause of death will be established later through medical examination.”
In addition to sharing the statement on Twitter, the organizers included a link to a fundraising page for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. It is understood that Shanks had multiple friends with MS.
Friends and family of the late runner shared memories and kind words on the fundraising page. They described Shanks as not only a passionate runner but also a musician, knitter, and quizzer with extensive knowledge of pop music. He was a loving husband to his wife Jess and a treasured son and son-in-law.
Jessica Shanks, Steve’s wife, expressed her heartbreak in a Facebook post, saying, “It’s with great sadness that I wish to announce the loss of my wonderful husband, Stephen Shanks.
“His passing was sudden and out of the blue. He was returning home having spent the day participating in the London Marathon. As you can imagine, I’m absolutely in shock and devastated.”
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