# Gareth Hopkins finishes marathon after cardiac arrest

> Gareth Hopkins, a paramedic who nearly died during the 2026 London Marathon, completed the race six months later.
- Title: Gareth Hopkins finishes marathon after cardiac arrest
- Summary: Gareth Hopkins, a paramedic who nearly died during the 2026 London Marathon, completed the race six months later. Gareth Hopkins finished the 2026 London…
- Keywords: gareth hopkins, london marathon, 2026 london marathon, cardiac arrest, age uk, nfl, marathon, The Straits Times
- Source: The Straits Times — https://straitstimes.com/world/europe/his-heart-stopped-a-mile-from-the-finish-six-months-later-he-completed-the-race
- Author: Raul Dancel
- Published: 2026-11-04T06:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: gareth hopkins, london marathon, 2026 london marathon, cardiac arrest, age uk, nfl, marathon, news, world
## Cardiac arrest during marathon
Gareth Hopkins, a 43-year-old paramedic, collapsed 2km from the 2026 London Marathon finish line.
## Heart stopped for 16 minutes
His heart stopped for 16 minutes and he spent four weeks in intensive care.
## Wife finds him in cardiac arrest
His wife Jodie found him in cardiac arrest after a call dropped.
## Recovery journey
Gareth recovered through rehabilitation over 28 days with 1,000 little victories.
## Completed final mile
Six months later, he ran the final mile to finish the race for his grandmother and donors.
## Raised £13,000 for Age UK
He raised over £13,000 (S$18,600) for Age UK in memory of his grandmother.
## Key takeaway

Gareth Hopkins finished the 2026 London Marathon six months after cardiac arrest, completing the race for his grandmother and donors who raised £13,000.