An Afghanistan veteran who died after collapsing during the London Marathon has been hailed a “hero” and an “inspiration” at his funeral.
Captain David Seath, a Commando, an Aberdeen University graduate who had “served his country with distinction” overseas, suffered a suspected heart attack while running the 26.2-mile course on April 24 and later died in hospital.
Hundreds of family members, friends and military colleagues gathered to remember the Cowdenbeath man at a service at St Margaret’s RC Memorial Church, Dunfermline.
During the service, Captain James Walker-McClimens read a tribute on behalf of the 31-year-old’s brother Gary.
He said: “David was my hero and my inspiration. I was so proud to say that he was a Captain in 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery and that he served his country with distinction in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
“There are no words to express how devastated I am that this story has so tragically ended, with so many chapters left unwritten.
“I take great strength in the memories of him and the pride that he had in being an officer of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery.”
The 350-capacity church was full, with dozens more standing in the aisles and at the back to hear the service.
Some wore bright colours in line with a request from the family, who had asked for the funeral to be a celebration of his life.
Capt Seath’s commanding officer Major Jim McCaffery, Battery Commander of 7 (Sphinx) Commando Battery, spoke during the service to praise Capt Seath as an “intelligent, diligent and professional soldier”.
He referred to his “irrepressible sense of fun” and said: “Everyone who came into contact with him felt better for it. His thirst for life, his joy in the moment and his sense of mischief gave him the ability to bring out a smile or a laugh under any circumstance and he was genuinely a pleasure to behold.”
Following the memorial, hundreds of mourners on foot followed the hearse taking the coffin – draped in a Union Flag – to a private burial.
Capt Seath had been running the marathon to raise money for Help for Heroes when h fell ill at the 23-mile mark, but his friends and colleagues vowed to continue to raise money for Help for Heroes.
More than £100,000 has been donated to a JustGiving page in his memory while about £80,000 has been raised for the charity on his own page.