'Fit' Briton aged 26 dies on Bondi run

A 26-year-old British man has died of a heart attack while competing in a fun run in Australia.

Lee Marriage, from Witley, near Godalming, Surrey, had moved to Sydney to start a new life with his girlfriend.

He collapsed 200 metres from the finish line at Bondi Beach of the annual 14km City2Surf run. Paramedics were unable to revive him.

Today his friends and family paid tribute to the IT worker they described as having been fit, healthy and full of life.

His sister, Louise Marriage, wrote on his Facebook page: "My little brother, I love you so so much and can't believe they have taken you from us. Such a wonderful special person, so kind and caring and loved by so many. My only grace is to know how happy you were. You met your soulmate, the love of your life in Michelle and you were beaming with love and happiness when you were here last."

Shaun Lydon, a friend, wrote: "You will always be a brother to me, you lived your dream life in Oz with the person you loved and it got taken away."

Mr Marriage collapsed at 11am yesterday. One female runner said competitors watched in horror as paramedics tried to revive him using a defibrillator.

"I saw him lying on the ground. There were several people treating him. Someone was yelling to runners to keep moving,'' she said. "He seemed fit, he wasn't rippling with muscles but he had a slim build.''

Elon Aizenstros, director of Unique Worldwhere Mr Marriage worked, said he had been head-hunted several years ago. He added: "He was a great guy. One of those rare individuals who was both incredibly capable and had a really great, vivacious spirit. Everyone here has taken it very hard."

An autopsy will be carried out in the next few days.