Runner, 22 dies after the hottest Marathon

The entrant suffered a suspected heart attack this morning after taking part in yesterday's run - the hottest in the event's 27-year history.

His death came amid a growing row after marathon organisers admitted they had run out of water at some points on the gruelling 26-mile race.

Six hundred runners failed to cross the finish line and more than 5,000 were treated for the effects of dehydration.

But race chiefs, who have not released the man's name, today insisted his death was not "heat related".

A spokeswoman for the London Marathon said: "It is with regret we can confirm that a 22-year-old man has died after completing the London Marathon. We offer our deepest condolences and sympathy to his family and friends."

Another runner who was reported critical after the race was today said to be out of danger. Thousands of runners were treated as water stations ran dry.

St John Ambulance treated 5,032 people, 73 of whom were sent to hospital. It came despite race organiser David Bedford promising runners would "drown" in water after the Lite warned on Friday of the searing conditions.

At the finish line on The Mall "radiated heat" from the road reached 27.5C.

Today on internet forums, one runner named Martin wrote: "There were four or five consecutive miles where the water had run out. Am I the only one who feels really let down by the organisers? We had to drink from bottles off the floor."

A total of 36,391 people started the 27th Flora London Marathon. Gordon Ramsay, pictured left, said the conditions were "extraordinary".

He said: "It was like running in a desert. I stopped to help one guy. It was quite bad. They were dropping like flies."

A spokesman for Flora London Marathon said 2,600 extra bottles of water from sponsor Vittel were added to each of the stations on the second half of the run.

But added: "Some stations did run out."