A TEACHER from Burnley had to be rushed to hospital when he collapsed during the London Marathon – 400 metres from the finish line.

Dave Swarbrick, of Harle Syke, completed the 26.2- mile route four years ago and was determined to beat his previous time of four hours and four minutes.

But with the finish line in his sights, he collapsed as a result of dehydration and had to be taken to hospital.

Dave, who teaches IT and business at Fisher More High School, Colne, was discharged by doctors yesterday.

The 32-year-old married father-of-two said his failure to finish was particularly disappointing because he was on course to beat his previous time.

He said: “Being a competitive sportsman I was determined to beat my last time.

“One of the other teachers had done it in three hours and 56 minutes, so I really wanted to break the four-hour mark.

“I had just passed Buckingham Palace and the next thing I remember is waking up in a St John Ambulance, having a seizure. It was really weird.

“My estimated finish time was three hours and 57 minutes as well.”

Dave, who plays for Colne United, was put on a drip for dehydration after his body temperature rose to 44 degrees.

Despite feeling ‘a million times better’ he said he had been lucky because if his temperature had risen any further it could have been fatal.

He said: “I can say that 100 per cent, I will not be doing the marathon again. I’ll stick to football I think.”

Dave wasn’t the only person to collapse during the race.

BBC newsreader Sophie Raworth was taken ill two miles from the finish but insisted on getting to the end.

Dave raised £1,300 for Pendleside Hospice by taking part in the race. Go to www.justgiving.de/swarby.