Claire Lomas dies at the age of 44: Paralyzed marathon runner in “bionic” suit dies suddenly in “accident” in the Middle East

A charity fundraiser who became the first person to complete a marathon in a “bionic” suit after breaking her spine in a horse-riding accident has died in the Middle East aged 44.

Claire Lomas, who had been paralyzed from the chest down since 2007, reportedly died in an accident in Jordan on August 22.

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Mrs Lomas, who suffered a fractured neck, back and ribs and a punctured lung when she was thrown from her horse at 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 wearing a “bionic” suit, raising thousands of pounds for the charity Spinal Research.

Ms Lomas was also a motivational speaker and trained pilot and was awarded an MBE in 2017.

In a statement issued to the Melton Times on behalf of her family, she said: “We are deeply saddened to lose Claire.”

“We ask people to respect our privacy in the coming days so that we can mourn in peace.”

Tara Stewart, chair of Spinal Research, which funds medical research worldwide to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by back or neck fractures, said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Claire's death.”

“She has been a great supporter of us and other spinal cord injury charities and a shining example to the entire community.

“In 2012 she raised an astonishing amount for spinal cord research by running the London Marathon for 17 days in a robotic suit, and she continued to be a force for positivity and a true inspiration to so many.

“This is a devastating loss and our thoughts are with her family.”

Great Run posted on X (formerly Twitter): “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of inspirational fundraiser Claire Lomas MBE.

“Claire has Story as the first person in the UK to run wearing a bionic ReWalk suit, inspiring runners across the UK and beyond.

“Over the last decade, Claire, along with her dedicated support team, has taken part in many Great Run Series events, raising almost £1 million for charity as part of an incredible fundraising campaign.”

Paul Foster, Great Run CEO, said: “Claire was a true inspiration. Her performance at the 2016 Great North Run was one of the most impressive moments in the event’s long history.”

“Everyone at Great Run was devastated to hear of her death and we will pay our tribute at next Week 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’s website said the news of the death had left the editorial team “devastated.”

It states: “We first met Claire last year and knew immediately that she would make an important contribution to our work with schools, not only as a source of inspiration but also as a living example of finding the positive in the negative, refusing to believe in limitations and being uncompromising in the way we live our lives.”

The statement continued: “She will be missed by all who knew her and who she both humbled and inspired.”

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