A LOCAL man aged 53 died at a popular motor racing event in South Cumbria.

The 53-year-old local man collapsed at the Grizedale Stages Rally on Saturday at around 10.30am while walking to the stage from one of the event's car parks.

An air ambulance attended the scene but event organisers have confirmed the man later died.

Roger Harrison, press officer for the Grizedale Stages Rally, said: "Shortly before the competitors were due in to Grizedale, a spectator arriving at Stage 4 was taken ill and medical assistance was requested by the marshals who were attending to him.

"We despatched our paramedics from the Stage Start and Service Area and called for an ambulance. After the paramedics arrived we requested an air ambulance due to the condition of the patient, which diverted from Manchester and subsequently landed at the scene.

"Obviously, the situation was developing over a period of time. With no paramedic at the Stage Start, regulations prevented us from being able to start the stage, not to mention the presence of the air ambulance.

"So we delayed Stage 3 – which ran into Stage 4 – to see how the situation progressed. Safety Cars announced to most spectators that there was a delay but obviously at this point we couldn’t predict the length of that delay.

"Once we had liaised with the Air Ambulance on scene, it became obvious that there would be a significant delay, so we took the decision to cancel Stage 4 and short-cut competitors through non-competitively and directly to Service.

"Throughout this period paramedics from the air ambulance and the rally attended the casualty. We are very sorry to report that despite this, he died. He was a local man of 53 with wife and children. The organising team extend their heart-felt condolences to his wife, his family and friends.

"We, the rally, have a duty of care to everyone involved; competitors, marshals and spectators. Clearly our priority was the incident, and we hope that spectators who had to wait for the competitors and competitors who didn’t get Stage 4, will understand."