An Afghanistan veteran who died after collapsing during the London Marathon has been hailed a “hero” and an “inspiration” at his funeral in Fife.
Captain David Seath, a fire support team commander in the Royal Artillery, died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during the race.
The 31 year-old was running to raise money for Help for Heroes when he fell ill near the 23-mile mark.
Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral service in the Scottish town of Dunfermline on Thursday, where colleagues and family members paid tributes in front of a packed out church and surrounding audience.
Mr Seath’s commanding officer Major Jim McCaffery said: “David was an inspiration to us all and I genuinely couldn't have wished for a finer officer. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts and prayers are with David's loved ones at this trying time.“
At St Margaret’s RC Memorial Church on Thursday, Major McCaffery described Mr Seath as an “intelligent, diligent and professional soldier”, and referred to his “irrepressible sense of fun”.
“Everyone who came into contact with him felt better for it,” he went on. “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.“
”It is entirely fitting that Dave's final act would be in support of those he did not know personally but whom he knew required his help.“
Leading the service, parish priest Father Chris Heenan spoke of shock and disbelief following the officer's death but said there had been a “tremendous outpouring of love and affection” for him.
A tribute was also read out by Captain James Walker-McClimens on behalf of Captain Seath’s brother, Gary
He said: “Words can't express how proud I was listening to [David] as he described his tours of 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.”
Since Mr Seath’s death, more than £170,000 has been raised for Help for Heroes charity in his memory.
