Gabby Logan pauses Great North Run coverage to break sad news of former participant's death
Gabby Logan, the popular BBC presenter, paused the Great North Run coverage on Sunday to announce the sad news of a well-known former participant's death earlier this week.
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, featuring Mo Farah's final Great North Run in 203 and Claire Lomas, who completed the race in 2016 using a bionic suit.
Gabby then paused the coverage, as she told viewers at home: "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 adding that she would later give a proper tribute to her, alongside GNR founder, Sir Brendan Foster.
Confirming Claire's death in a brief statement earlier this week, 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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