A 25-YEAR-OLD man from Wenvoe was one of two men who died after completing the Cardiff Half Marathon last weekend.

Ben McDonald suffered a cardiac arrest at the finish line.

He was immediately attended to, but could not be saved.

Thirty-two-year-old Dean Fletcher, of Exeter, Devon, also suffered a cardiac arrest after running the 13.1 mile distance.

Organiser Run 4 Wales chief executive Matt Newman said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the families.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to their family and friends.

“The emergency services reacted to this terrible situation with great speed and professionalism. Everyone connected with the race is devastated.

“They unfortunately become the first fatalities in the 15 year history of the race.

“Both runners were immediately attended to by the medical emergency team on the finish line.

“Both were then taken to University Hospital Wales, Heath, Cardiff where they later died.”

“It was the first time that Mr McDonald had run the Cardiff Half Marathon.”

In a statement on the Cardiff Half Marathon website, organisers said: “Ben grasped the challenge of the Cardiff Half Marathon with typical positivity as he set out to complete the race alongside girlfriend Amy, brothers Steve and Andrew, brother in-law Paddy and sisters-in-law Kate and Alix.

“He was supported by his mother Ruth, father Paul and sister Vicki, who gave their course-side encouragement.”

Mr McDonald worked at the Cardiff White Water Centre, qualified as a teacher and was a keen bodyboarder, snowboarder and kayaker.

His fundraising page tribute read: “If you knew Ben, then you will know what an incredible & beautiful person he was.”

More than £12,400 has so far been raised in his memory.

Donations, via justgiving.com/crowdfunding/in-memory-of-ben-mcdonald?utm_id=2&utm_term=abGVnaVnD