Gabby Logan halted Great North Run coverage to deliver tragic BBC announcement
Gabby Logan interrupted the Great North Run broadcast to announce the tragic death of a past participant.
Off the back of hosing the Olympics, the TV presenter, 51, was at Tyneside for the live coverage of the run on Sunday (8 September).
To start the show off, the BBC displayed a montage of highlights over the past 43 years, from Mo Farah's final Great North Run, along with Claire Lomas who died aged 44 out in the Middle East last month.
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17 years ago, Claire was paralysed from the chest down after a horse riding accident.
Despite her life-changing injuries, she still managed to complete the Great North Run in a bionic suit in 2016.
The campaigner who raised nearly £1m for charity reportedly died on 22 August following an accident in Jordan in the Middle East, her family said.
"We are absolutely devastated to lose Claire. We would ask people to respect our privacy in the coming days to allow us to grieve in peace," a statement read.
During her broadcast, Logan delivered the news and said: "You may have recognised Claire Lomas in her bionic suit, which she wore to complete the Great North Run, having been paralysed in her sport, eventing."
"Well, it is very sad news I bring you that Claire died in an accident in Jordan a few days ago," calling Claire an 'incredible inspiration'.
The former chiropractor, from Eye Kettleby near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, was told she would never walk again following the horse riding accident all those years ago.
But she still managed to complete the London Marathon in 2012 using a bionic suit. It took her 17 days and she raised £220,000 in the process.
Taking to X, the Great Run said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the inspirational fundraiser, Claire Lomas MBE.
"Claire made history as the first person in the UK to walk with a bionic ReWalk suit, inspiring runners across the UK and beyond.
"Over the past decade, Claire completed many Great Run Series events alongside her dedicated support team, as part of an incredible fundraising drive, raising almost £1 million for charities."
Paul Foster, chief executive of Great Run, added: "Claire was a true inspiration.
"Her achievement in completing the 2016 Great North Run was one of the most powerful moments in the long history of the event.
"Everyone at Great Run was devastated to hear of her passing, and we will pay tribute at next week's Great North Run.
"Our thoughts and love are with her parents Martin & Joyce, husband Dan, and their two young daughters, Maisie and Chloe."
Anish Vij