Family pays tribute to ‘wonderful’ father who died at half marathon after collapsing --[Reported by Umva mag]

The family of a Cardiff Half Marathon runner who died after collapsing described him as a ‘wonderful father.’

Stephen Jenkins, 37, was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead after completing the UK’s second largest half marathon on Sunday.

The keen runner reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest at the half marathon finish line.

His heartbroken family described him as a ‘wonderful father’ and ‘genuinely kind person.’

Stephen, a dad of an 18-month-old daughter, grew up in Ammanford in Wales.

He lived in London with his partner and child, working in business development after studying Geography at Oxford University, WalesOnline reports.

His father Dyfrig said: ‘Stephen was a friend to everyone.

‘He was very caring, very loyal and wonderful with children. He was a genuinely kind person that wore his heart on his sleeve and the glue among all his friends – he was always the one to organise someone’s birthday or a get-together.

‘Stephen was a keen runner and cyclist and very passionate about Welsh rugby. He and his grandfather had tickets near the halfway line at the Principality stadium – they rarely missed a game since the stadium opened. He was also extremely passionate about his Welsh roots and the Welsh language. Although his daughter is being brought up in Walthamstow, she can already speak some Welsh.

‘Stephen was a wonderful son to us throughout all his life. He was so kind and caring. He was the best dad in the world to our granddaughter Mabli and a wonderful partner to Rhiannon.’

The popular event is completed by almost 30,000 people each year, taking on the 13.1 mile course that starts and ends in the Cardiff city centre.

The route goes past popular tourist spots such as Cardiff Castle, the Cardiff Bay barrage and Roath Park Lake, and is favoured by runners for its flat course.

A spokesperson for Run 4 Wales said: ‘This is a terrible tragedy and our deepest sympathies go out to the runner’s family. 

‘In respect for the participant’s family at this difficult time, no further details will be released.’

Run 4 Wales previously said they have worked to raise awareness of unknown heart conditions, after two runners suffered cardiac arrest within minutes of crossing the finish line in 2018.

In September, 29-year-old Sam Wealleans died after he collapsed during the Great North Run.

Sam, from Northumberland, was running the half marathon for mental health charity Mind, in memory of his sister and a close friend.

His parents Paul and Paula have said they are ‘devastated and heartbroken’ by the unexpected loss of their son, whose cause of death is not yet known.

‘We have been overwhelmed by the thousands of kind messages and charitable donations from people across the country and would like to sincerely thank everyone for their support and sympathy.

‘Our family have taken great comfort in knowing he was loved by all who knew him,’ they said in a statement.

The Great Run Company have said its ‘thoughts and sympathies are with all those who loved and knew him’, with Mind’s chief executive Sarah Hughes adding the charity would be ‘forever grateful for Sam’s contribution.’

60,000 runners signed up for the Great North Run this year, making it the biggest of its kind in Europe.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

The following news has been carefully analyzed, curated, and compiled by Umva Mag from a diverse range of people, sources, and reputable platforms. Our editorial team strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information we provide. By combining insights from multiple perspectives, we aim to offer a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the events and stories that shape our world. Umva Mag values transparency, accountability, and journalistic integrity, ensuring that each piece of content is delivered with the utmost professionalism.