A cyclist has died after suffering a heart attack during the RideLondon event this weekend, his family say.
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Cancer survivor Robin Chard passed away following the race on Sunday (July 31), in which he was participating to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
On Monday a string of donations were made to Chard’s fundraising page where he was remembered as a “dear friend” who died “doing something beautifully selfless and kind”.
Cyclists pass Trafalgar Square in London in the early stages on the Prudential Ride 100.
Robin Chard, 48, from Bicester, Oxfordshire, who was raising money for Cancer Research UK, suffered a cardiac arrest at Kingston Bridge at around the 25-mile mark of the 100-mile ride.
In a statement RideLondon organisers said: “Everyone involved in Prudential RideLondon would like to express honest condolences to Robin’s family and friends”.
“Some of you may know, but I too had a form of cancer when I was younger”.
The second crash took place at just before 11am near Thames Ditton and that cyclist was also treated by air ambulance paramedics before being taken to a London hospital.
Last year, 39 riders ended up in hospital, with nine remaining there overnight or for longer.
Another anonymous post read: “Hi daddy, I’m so proud of you”. Well done for getting as far as you did. Mr Chard was raising money for the cancer charity after his own battle with Hodgkin Lymphoma as a child. Many childhood memories with your family.
Mr Chard wrote on his JustGiving page: “Those that know me probably think I’m totally barking even attempting such a feat, but I want to help raise money for this charity to try and find more effective and permanent cures and improve the treatments available today”. You did such an fantastic thing.
The ride set off from the Olympic Park in east London Sunday morning and followed a route into Surrey before looping back to finish on the Mall, central London.
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The drama unfolded during the annual event after two riders crashed their bikes in separate incidents, with both having to be airlifted to hospital with severe head injuries.
