Gabby Logan halts BBC coverage to deliver tragic news announcement
BBC presenter Gabby Logan was on hand to introduce the coverage of the 43rd Great North Run on Sunday morning but was forced to break the sad news of a former entrant's death.
Gabby Logan, the popular BBC presenter, interrupted the Great North Run coverage on Sunday to announce the tragic news of a former participant's death.
Fresh from her role as one of the main hosts for the Olympics, Gabby returned to Tyneside to anchor the live broadcast from the Great North Run start line. Her first task of the day was to introduce a special rendition of the iconic anthem Local Hero, played by the new Guitar Heroes recording of the Mark Knopfler track.
Following the song, a montage of highlights from the past 43 years was shown, including Mo Farah's final Great North Run and Claire Lomas, who completed the race in 2016 using a bionic suit.
Claire, 44, suffered a broken neck, back, and ribs and punctured a lung when she was thrown off her horse 17 years ago. Despite her injuries, she raised £1 million for charity and also participated in the London Marathon in 2012.
However, Gabby took a moment to share the sad news that Claire had died.
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Gabby paused the coverage to inform viewers: "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," before describing Claire as an 'incredible inspiration" and promising a proper tribute to her later, alongside GNR founder, Sir Brendan Foster.
In a brief statement earlier this week, Claire's family confirmed her death, saying: "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, reports Chronicle Live.
After being told she would never walk again, Claire proved people wrong by walking the London Marathon in 2012 in a bionic suit.
It took her 17 days to complete the distance and she raised £220,000 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.
She went on to light the cauldron for the 2012 Paralympic Games and later completed the Great North Run and the Great South Run in the suit.
In 2016, Claire received an Honorary Degree in recognition of her significant contribution to fundraising for spinal injuries research. She lived in Melton Mowbray with her husband Dan and their two young daughters.
