A 43-year-old paramedic is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest just a mile from the finish line of the London Marathon. Gareth Hopkins, from Hoddesdon, collapsed at the 25-mile mark on Sunday and was rushed to a London hospital, where he remains in intensive care in a critical condition.
Hopkins, who has served with the East of England Ambulance Service for 20 years, was running for Age UK in memory of his grandmother, Tricia Petts, who died in January 2025 after a six-year battle with Alzheimer's and dementia. He was running alongside his brother Chris.
A GoFundMe page set up by friend James Pearson has raised more than £22,300 to support Hopkins's family. Pearson wrote: 'While the future remains uncertain, we continue to stay hopeful and positive. This sudden and devastating event has had a profound impact on Gareth's wife, Jodie, their young children, his parents, and his brother.'
Hopkins had taken up running only recently, starting a 'Couch to 5K' programme in August 2024 after a five-year hiatus from exercise. He told local media he was determined to finish the marathon 'regardless' after losing a stone in weight during training. This year's London Marathon raised at least £87.5 million for charity.
