'I thought I would die after London Marathon'

6 hours ago

Josh Sandiford,West Midlandsand

Tammy Gooding,BBC Hereford & Worcester

Chris Attwood smiles as he runs through the London Marathon in April 2025, shortly before becoming unwell

Amy Attwood A man in a black, white and orange running vest with race number visible runs along a London street on a sunny day, reaching out towards spectators who line metal barriers on the right. Other runners are visible behind him and trees are in full leaf overhead. — Chris Attwood smiles as he runs through the London Marathon in April 2025, shortly before becoming unwell

An accomplished runner who suffered a heart attack and a stroke after taking part in his tenth London Marathon has shared how he got back to events thanks to his family and running club.

Chris Attwood, 52, had been on pace for a personal best of two hours 55 minutes but became unwell around mile 20 of the route in April 2025.

The Black Pear Jogger, from Worcester, who now uses an all-terrain wheelchair and a computer system to aid his speech, told the BBC: "I was strapped to a stretcher, thinking I was going to die."

On Saturday he returned to Worcester parkrun with his friends and family, appearing on the official results for the first time since his collapse.

Wife Amy said she had been tracking her husband on an app last year before the updates stopped. She eventually received a phone call saying he had been taken to hospital.

"I remember running down a corridor trying to find him," she said.

"I was like 'there he is'. [My friend] said 'how do you know that's Chris'? And I was like 'I recognise those running toes anywhere'."

Chris Attwood now uses a wheelchair and a computer system to aid his speech

Amy Attwood A man wearing glasses, a navy blue beanie hat and a blue puffer jacket sits smiling in a powered wheelchair at an outdoor table. A cup of tea or coffee sits on the table in front of him. Other people can be seen sitting at tables in the background. — Chris Attwood now uses a wheelchair and a computer system to aid his speech

After being taken to hospital, Attwood underwent a cardiac procedure which initially went well.

But shortly afterwards he suffered a massive stroke.

His brain began to swell and surgeons had to remove half of his skull to save his life.

His wife explained doctors discussed palliative care but a stroke consultant pushed for more time because the patient was "young and fit".

"Within a week of that we then started to get flickers of movement," she said.

Chris and Amy Attwood before his heart attack at the 2025 London Marathon

Amy Attwood A smiling couple take a selfie outdoors in a scrubland landscape at sunset. The woman on the left has curly red hair and wears a bright blue jacket. The man on the right wears glasses, a black jacket and is holding the camera. Dramatic orange and grey clouds fill the sky behind them. — Chris and Amy Attwood before his heart attack at the 2025 London Marathon

Attwood spent 234 days in hospital and is now walking short distances around the house and standing independently.

His running club raised more than £23,000 to buy the new chair he used for the weekend's parkrun, saying they "need him" back.

Asked what his friends and community have meant to his recovery, he replied: "Massive. It keeps you going."

His wife added: "It's absolutely fantastic to be able to run with Chris around parkrun and see all his friends. We cannot thank the running community enough."