A charity fundraiser who became the first person to complete a marathon in a “bionic” suit after breaking her back in a horse-riding accident has died in the Middle East aged 44.
Claire Lomas, who was paralysed from the chest down since 2007, died following an accident in Jordan on August 22, the Melton Times has reported.
Ms Lomas, who broke her neck, back and ribs and punctured a lung when her horse threw her off as she took part in the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire 17 years ago, raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity.
The former chiropractor, from Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, completed the London Marathon in 17 days in 2012 using the “bionic” suit, raising thousands of pounds for the Spinal Research charity.
Ms Lomas was also a motivational speaker, a qualified pilot and was made an MBE in 2017.
A statement given to the Melton Times on behalf of her family reads: “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.”
Tara Stewart, chairwoman of Spinal Research, which funds medical research around the world to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck, said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Claire’s death.
“She was a great supporter of ours, and other spinal injury charities, and a guiding light to the entire community.
“It was in 2012 that she raised a staggering amount for Spinal Research by walking the London Marathon over 17 days in a robotic suit and she continued to be a powerhouse of positivity and a real inspiration to so many.
“This is a devastating loss and our thoughts are with her family.”
Great Run posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the inspirational fundraiser, Claire Lomas MBE.
“Claire made history as the first person in the UK to walk with a bionic ReWalk suit, inspiring runners across the UK and beyond.
“Over the past decade, Claire completed many Great Run Series events alongside her dedicated support team, as part of an incredible fundraising drive, raising almost £1 million for charities.”
Paul Foster, chief executive of Great Run, said: “Claire was a true inspiration. Her achievement in completing the 2016 Great North Run was one of the most powerful moments in the long history of the event.
“Everyone at Great Run was devastated to hear of her passing, and we will pay tribute at next week’s Great North Run. Our thoughts and love are with her parents Martin & Joyce, husband Dan, and their two young daughters, Maisie and Chloe.”
Independent Thinking posted on its website saying it was “devastated” to learn of the death.
It said: “We first met up with Claire last year and we knew immediately she would make an important contribution to our work with schools, not only as a source of inspiration but also as living example of finding the positives in the negative, of refusing to believe in limitations, and of being uncompromising in how a life can be led.”
The statement added: “She will be missed by everyone who met her and who were both humbled and inspired by her.”