Man who ran half naked through London streets in snow identified as former gangster PT

The man who was spotted running half-naked through a blizzard has finally been identified.

Footage emerged earlier this week of a hulking masked man racing through the snow-caked streets of London.

As well as wondering why the hell someone would decided to lace up their trainers and go for a jog in that kind of weather, many were asking themselves who it was behind the mask.

Well, it turns out that it was in fact an ex-gang member who currently works as a fitness instructor to celebs, having worked with the likes of Simon Cowell and Rita Ora.

Yusef Bouattoura has turned his life around since he was stabbed twice and jailed by the age of 15.

The 26-year-old goes by the name Pro PT on Instagram, and posted the video of himself going for a run in the snow.

@pro.pt/Instagram

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said he's always doing stuff like that.

"It’s just part of my training routine," he said. "I do things a bit unnormal. It’s just the way I live my life.

"I’m actually training for one of my fights - I’ve got a fight coming up next year - and it’s a big part of my training routine, part of my lifestyle. I’ve been a personal trainer for eight years."

Asking if he's ever managed to convince his clients to jog in the snow as part of their workout, he said: "A few of them did do it, yeah, a few of them have done it. Some of them have gone running in the snow. A few people I worked with tagged me in it [the video]."

Yusef, who is an ultra-marathon runner, went on to say that running in the snow is actually better for the body.

He told the outlet that the snowfall cushions the impact on legs and supports the knees.

@pro.pt/Instagram

"A lot of people look at it as if it is an extraordinary thing," he said. "But once you’re out there and you’re jogging, you’re warm right away.

"So it seems like it’s a bit crazy but your body adapts and there’s actually decent health benefits behind it.

"Literally just for recovery, it is good for the mind, there’s less impact on your feet and your legs and your knees. When you run outside there’s a lot of impact and when you run on snow it takes off a bit of the impact on your legs.

"Also for your breathing as well; the fresh air allows your body to expand your lungs."

And the next time it snows, he says he's planning on bringing more people with him.

"I can’t wait for it to snow again," he added. "This time around I’m going to take more people."