Some now want routine heart checks on people who undertake strenuous activities

Teacher Phil Lewis should have spent yesterday telling his pupils and colleagues about finishing his 24^th Great North Run.  Instead, head teacher Jonathon Morris had to break the news of his death to a stunned and silent assembly at Moorside Community Technical College, Consett, County Durham. 

Mr Lewis, 52, was the oldest of four participants who died during Sunday’s run.  The youngest, Reuben Wilson, from Leeds was only 28 years old.  The tragedies have led to calls for organisations such as UK Athletics and Sport England to review medical advice to runners. 

Charity campaigners at Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) have even gone as far as asking for ECG tests – electrocardiograms – to join the BCG vaccination against TB as a routine secondary school procedure, so those who have an unknown heart condition can be identified. 

But Dr John Bourke, a cardiologist at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, said yesterday that routine testing for runners would create anxieties and lead to people being more cautious than necessary.  Dr Bourke said he expected tests to show that the four runners died from one of two likely causes. 

“You get young people who have a heart muscle or rhythm problem they are completely unaware of,” he said. 

“That’s why even fit athletes and footballers can suddenly drop dead. 

“The second group of people are usually men who are middle aged and reasonably fit.  They have coronary artery problems they aren’t aware of. 

“When their heart is put under stress, that leads to rhythm problems and develops in a similar way to a heart attack. 

“Both sets of people would have been feeling fit and well when they started.  That’s what makes it all the more tragic.” 

He said: “These deaths were tragedies.  But, for most people, the benefits to fitness levels and health training for an event like this bring, can only be a good thing. 

“I would just advise people to train sensibly.”  CRY estimates that 400 people under 35 die each year from previously undetected heart problems. 

Marcello Chicarella, 35, of East Kilbride, Glasgow, died during last year’s Great North Run. 

In 2000, 34-year-old Ian Graham from Washington died moments after he had crossed the finish line.  Peter Hunt, 38, from Essex, collapsed and died near the end of the race in 1987 and teacher Thomas Collins, of Fawdon, Newcastle, died after four miles in 1983. 

Since the London Marathon started in 1981, there have been seven deaths. 

Seven years ago, Anna Loyley, a 26-year-old theatrical agent, died seconds after crossing the finishing line of the Bath half-marathon – prompting coroner Brian Whitehouse to call for all athletes to undergo pre-competition heart screening. 

Sports minister Richard Caborn, who himself completed the Great North Run, said yesterday that perhaps advice given to runners needed to be updated. 

But his spokesman said later he was not saying there needed to be a review. 

CRY chief executive Alison Cox said: “We want ECG testing for all young people before an event that’s going to put extreme stress on the heart. 

“The tests only cost £35 and would save lives. 

“We work with organisers of the London Marathon to provide tests for people who want them and we’d be very happy to work with Brendan Foster at the Great North Run as well.” 

Ms Cox wants ECGs to be provided to all secondary school pupils and for the UK to follow Italy in offering competitors in any sport an annual test.

“When you get four people dying in one race,” she said, “That’s when people start asking if we should be doing something. 

“So, let’s do something now, before there are any more deaths."