Heartbreak and anger as marathon runner collapses before finish line

Scotsman Callum Hawkins was within minutes of achieving his gold-medal dream at the Commonwealth Games when his body gave out to the gruelling conditions during the marathon on Sunday.

Hawkins was in the lead and just 2km from the finish line when he began to stumble and fell onto the searing hot bitchumen on the Gold Coast. In a valiant effort, he managed to climb back to his feet and appeared to on track to finish the race, but it wasn’t to be.

Heartbroken spectators watched as Hawkins’ body began to shut down and he fell sideways into the railings on the side of the road, smacking his head into the metal bars as he went down.

Although his body had given up, Hawkins, 25, tried repeatedly to climb back to his feat, but was clearly distressed.

Commentators Bruce McAvaney and Tamsyn Lewis were left stunned by the shocking scene.

“Can you believe this? Callum Hawkins, who has demolished this field, is completely and utterly distressed,” McAvaney said.

“What we’re seeing is hard to watch. Very difficult to watch.”

https://twitter.com/7CommGames/status/985314330349527040

Australian Michael Shelley, who went on to win the race, looked pained as he overtook a near-unconscious Hawkins.

Under marathon rules, officials are expected to step in and take a runner off the field for medical attention when it’s clear they can no longer go on. However, both the commentators and viewers at home were left sickened when no staff came to Hawkins’ aid.

“He is in trouble. He needs help!” Lewis said. “I would have thought [medical staff would have stepped in by] now. I think now is the time. An athlete works all that life to win gold medals. But there is one thing more important than that. He should be assisted now.”

ABC Journalist Chris O’Brien tweeted it was “appalling” no one came to Hawkins’ rescue.

“This is simply a crime that no medical person had even come close to help this runner. Rules be damned he needs help,” he said. “The fact that no one prevented him hitting his head – twice – was criminal. That no one was even nearby to do so beyond belief.”

Not long after Hawkins was removed from the road, Scottish officials said he had been taken to hospital for medical review, but there were “no major concerns at this stage” for his health.

Australian runner Shelly, 34, completed the course in 2:16.46 to win gold.

What are your thoughts on this? Should officials have stepped in earlier?