The race route up Snowdon from Llanberis

A runner died while racing to the mountain’s summit in the annual International Snowdon Race yesterday.

The man died despite receiving medical help within a short time of collapsing 300m (984ft) short of the checkpoint at the top of the peak. He was airlifted to the Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor but pronounced dead at the hospital.

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said there had been four mountain rescues on the day, in which teams from Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, North East Wales Search and Rescue, RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Team and the police were involved.

It is believed the fellrunner, who has not yet been named, suffered heart problems.

Insp Neil Maxwell of North Wales Police said: “We urge members of the public who walk on the mountains to take extreme care and make sure they are properly equipped.

“They should ensure that someone knows where they are planning to walk, that they have the experience and capability to deal with the location they have chosen.”

Andi Jones of Salford Harriers won the race in a time of 1hr 8min 15sec, less than a minute ahead of second-place Ian Holmes of Bingley Harriers. First woman back on the 16km (10-mile) course from Llanberis to the summit and back was Katie Ingram, in 1hr 15min 32sec.