VEREENIGING. – A parkrunner tragically died on Saturday morning at the Riviera on Vaal parkrun in Vereeniging after apparently collapsing near the finish line.

Desmond Richardson Snr. (61) apparently collapsed just before the bridge on the Riviera on Vaal golf course after he had already covered approximately 4.7km.

Vaalweekblad understands that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was applied to him, but it was to no avail.

The exact cause of his death is unknown, but it is suspected that he had a heart attack.

A post-mortem examination is being carried out to determine the cause of his death.

Richardson, a former railway worker, ran a dog food shop for about 22 years.

Riviera on Vaal parkrun wrote on their official Facebook page: “It is with a sad and heavy heart that we had to say goodbye this morning to a member of our parkrun family, Desmond Richardson. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Uncle Desmond.”

Gill Fordyce, parkrun SA’s chief executive officer, said when asked that procedures are being followed to determine what happened and that out of respect for the family, parkrun will not be commenting at this sad time.

This is the second athlete to die at Riviera on Vaal parkrun. Nico Bekker, a 55-year-old teacher from Vereeniging Gymnasium died in January 2020 when he also collapsed during the parkrun.