A paralysed woman who became the first person to complete a marathon in a “bionic” suit has died in the Middle East, aged 44.
Claire Lomas, who was paralysed from the chest down since 2007, died following an accident in Jordan on 22 August, the Melton Times has reported.
Ms Lomas broke her neck, back and ribs and punctured a lung when her horse threw her off 17 years ago and then raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.
The former chiropractor, from Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, completed the London Marathon in 17 days in 2012 using the “bionic” suit, raising thousands of pounds for the Spinal Research charity.
Ms Lomas was also a motivational speaker, a qualified pilot and was made an MBE in 2017.
A statement given to the Melton Times on behalf of 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.”
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Claire had two young daughters and posted on X about competing in one of their sports days in June.
“Last in the mum’s race at Sport’s Day,” she wrote.
“I did it for my daughter who was a little sad I came last but really proud too.
“[The] harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph.”
In a video she separately posted of the race, school children could be heard whooping and chanting her name as she crossed the finish line in her wheelchair.
“It felt like the finish line of my 17 day London Marathon,” she wrote.
Tributes were paid Ms Lomas online, praising her as an “inspiration”.
Tara Stewart, chairwoman of Spinal Research, said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Claire’s death.
“She was a great supporter of ours, and other spinal injury charities, and a guiding light to the entire community.
“She [was] a powerhouse of positivity and a real inspiration to so many. This is a devastating loss and our thoughts are with her family.”
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Paul Foster, chief executive of Great Run, said: “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.”
