An athlete dies in Great North Run in South Shields on Sunday
Last Updated: 13/09/15 9:47pm
An unnamed runner has died while competing in the Great North Run in South Shields on Sunday, organisers have confirmed.
The runner's name or any details about the cause of death have not been released.
A spokesman for the event said: "The Great Run Company deeply regrets the loss of life of a participant at the Great North Run today and offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the individual.
"In the case of a fatality, there are procedures laid down that we adhere to with the professional organisations.
"Our priority is to ensure the next of kin are informed and we are not in a position to comment further.
"We will update the media as soon as we are in a position to do so."
About 57,000 people started Britain's biggest race in Newcastle, making their way over the Tyne Bridge, through Gateshead and onto the coast at South Shields.
Mo Farah won the race for a second year in a row, completing the half marathon in 59 minutes and 22 seconds, the fastest half-marathon time by a British athlete.
Kenya's Mary Keitany won the women's elite race with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 32 seconds.
David Weir took the men's wheelchair crown, while Shelly Woods won the women's wheelchair race.
Notable names taking part included Professor Brian Cox, Olympic gold medalist James Cracknell, TV presenter Steph McGovern and former footballer Kevin Kilbane.
A total of £25m is expected to be raised for charity by those taking part, with many of the runners wearing fancy dress.
An estimated 300,000 bottles of water were given to the participants and 38 buses were used to transport all of the kit from the start to the finishing line.
Last year the Great North became the first mass participation run in the world to have its one millionth participant finish the race.
