A paramedic who ran the London Marathon in memory of his grandmother is fighting for his life after suffering a cardiac arrest at mile 25. Gareth Hopkins, 43, who has served with the East of England Ambulance Service for 21 years, is currently being treated in intensive care at a London hospital.
A GoFundMe page, launched by his friend James Pearson, has raised over £28,000 to support his 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 entered the marathon with his brother Chris to honour their late grandmother, Tricia Potts, who died in January last year after a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Before the race, he told the BBC: 'I’ve never done any exercise for five years. I don’t go to the gym; I’m not a runner. I watched Chris do it last year… and I thought, “I can probably do that.”' He added he was determined to finish 'regardless', having lost a stone in weight and trained for months.
Pearson highlighted Hopkins's dedication: 'Gareth has dedicated the past 20 years to serving others as a paramedic. Throughout his career, he has always been committed to helping people in their time of need.' Hopkins had previously spoken about fundraising for Age UK, saying: 'As a paramedic, I see first-hand the struggles our elderly population face… My career has shown me how much a little support can change a life.'
