LONDON, England ● An extreme fundraiser has completed the Olympic marathon course wearing a 140lb (63.5kg) deep-sea diving suit, raising thousands of pounds for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee charity.
Lloyd Scott, who last year crawled the length of the London Marathon dressed as a snail, took five days, five hours and 15 minutes to accomplish his latest gruelling feat.
Mr Scott said he was delighted to become the first person to complete the Olympic route, crossing the finish line in The Mall as the Queen marked her 60-year reign.
He was barred from this year’s London Marathon because a change in the rules means competitors now have to finish on the day of the race.
But he said his sense of achievement following the Olympic marathon challenge was unbeatable.
The 50-year-old, from Theydon Bois in Essex, said: “The whole occasion, finishing in The Mall, on the Jubilee weekend, in front of Buckingham Palace, doing it for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee charity – it doesn’t get any better that that.
“The whole walk was amazing, it was absolutely fantastic.
“The first three days were incredibly hard due to the weather. I have never been in a diving suit when it’s been that hot and I actually felt quite sick and that put us behind.
“Trying to catch up in a 140lb diving suit isn’t the easiest thing in the world but fortunately, with all the support, I got back on schedule.”
Mr Scott, a father of three, has raised more than £5 million for charity since his first London Marathon in 1990 after he fought off leukaemia.
The former professional footballer, who played for Watford, Blackpool and Leyton Orient, once ran the marathon in an antique diving suit and has also completed an underwater marathon in Loch Ness.
He said he collected thousands of pounds in buckets during his latest effort and hopes the eventual figure will be in the tens of thousands.
All funds raised will go to The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, chaired by former prime minister Sir John Major, who has supported Mr Scott throughout the challenge.
The trust was set up to help those in need across the Commonwealth. Anyone wanting to donate should visit http://my.jubileetribute.org.