Lord of the Dance
Police name Irishman who died during Belfast Marathon as 'devoted' dad-of-two
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Police name Irishman who died during Belfast Marathon as 'devoted' dad-of-two

THE man who tragically died at the Belfast Marathon on Monday has been named by police.

Stephen Heaney, 50, collapsed suddenly on the Sydenham bypass near Victoria Park in east Belfast during the marathon's sixth mile.

Fellow participants stopped to administer CPR and he was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast.

Mr Heaney, from Limavady in Co. Derry, sadly passed away a short time later.

Police have released the final photo taken of the dad-of-two on the morning of the 37th annual Belfast City Marathon.

He was among 17,000 competitors who took part in the event - which was won by Kenya's Eric Koech.

Mr Heaney will be laid to rest on Friday, May 11 following a funeral service in Christ Church, Limavady.

He is survived by his children, Rebecca and Victoria, and his father, David.

The Heaney family have asked for any donations in lieu of flowers to be directed to Macmillan Cancer Support, c/o Browns Funeral Directors, 25 Church Street, Limavady.