Big shame about the Scottish marathoner

[Bazza1234]

It was quite hot here today - and considering that it is supposed to be "Autumn" - running a marathon at the Commonwealth Games in 32C!!! There has been a big fuss about the so called long time that the athlete was unattended until assistance arrived - a couple of minutes. A marathon being 42 klms long means that an incident could happen at any point in that 42 klms - it takes a little while for ambulances to travel.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

My understanding is that it's not a question of how quickly an ambulance arrived but how slowly it took for anyone to help him. He was struggling on the ground for a while before help arrived. The runner who was second ran past him and went on to win.

[Millsie-J in reply to Irishprincess]

Just taken a look at this IP, it is certainly a very very poor show! Its not as though these were unusual conditions for the venue, what on earth happened to proper planning for any potential emergency response?

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

Not heard anything about it or seen it. Will go and have a look.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

I understand that he fell twice - the first time he refused assistance because assistance in a race such as this means instant disqualification. We are not dealing with some kind of "fun run" here - this is the real deal and this class of runners do not want "assistance". This is not a game - as in a game of Football or a game of golf. This is THE Marathon!!

[Millsie-J in reply to Bazza1234]

From what I saw there was no medical/ first aid assistance for him to refuse at the point he collapsed. He didn’t look able to refuse either, he was flat out.

I’m sure lessons will be learned from this.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

The marathon is 42 klms long - with runners spread out along the course. This could have happened in any one of those 42 klms and I doubt that any marathon in the World has medical teams at every 500 metre point!! It does take a few minutes to get to somebody who falls- a few minutes can be an agonizingly long time. The lesson to learn is to fully understand the conditions of the event.

[davelinks Graduate10]

Medical help 'a disgrace'

It had taken a couple of minutes for any medical staff to attend to the Scot, who was lying on the road in clear distress with spectators looking on, some taking photographs.

BBC Sport commentator Steve Cram said it was "a disgrace" it took so long for any paramedics to attend to Hawkins.

Cram added: "I'm just concerned for his welfare. He hit his head on the barrier. I'm sorry if you're watching this at home, it's really distressing. He's going to hurt himself and there's nobody anywhere near.

"We should have some more medical attention. This is a guy in real distress and someone needs to recognise it for his health at this point.

"Where on earth is the help? You cannot just wait at the finish line. They've got radios. And finally somebody arrives. I think it's disgraceful."

[Hidden in reply to davelinks]

Well said Dave !👏👏

[mfamilias Graduate10]

I've just looked at an article in the Telegraph, illustrated with a photo of Hawkins lying on the ground as thirteen people look on. Two of them are crouched down and appear to be in the process of speaking to him or moving onto the road towards him. That makes 12 people (including the person who took the photo) who did nothing but look on. They could have done something to help him until the medics arrived.

It particularly shocks me because 29 years ago today, I would have given anything to have been able to get across the fence separating me from people who needed help.