Fauja Singh, the British-Indian runner celebrated as the world’s oldest marathoner, has died at the age of 114 after being struck by a vehicle in his native village in Punjab, India.

The accident occurred on Monday in Beas Pind, near Jalandhar, as Singh was walking near his birthplace. Local authorities say he was hit by an unidentified vehicle in a suspected hit-and-run. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. A police investigation is under way.

Singh, known globally as the “Turbaned Tornado,” began running at the age of 89 and went on to complete nine full marathons. He made headlines worldwide for his remarkable endurance and became an icon of healthy ageing and resilience.

From Farmer to Global Phenomenon

Born in 1911, Singh lived through both World Wars and the Partition of India. As a young boy, he was considered frail and didn’t walk properly until age five. “I never went to school and had never even heard of the word ‘marathon’ growing up,” he once said. Most of his life was spent farming in rural Punjab.

He took up running in his 80s, after losing his wife and later his younger son in a tragic accident. The grief pushed him to seek solace in physical activity. Settling in London in the early 1990s, Singh joined a group of elderly Sikh runners, eventually connecting with coach Harmander Singh, who guided him into competitive running.

Breaking Boundaries and Setting Records

Singh made his marathon debut at the 2000 London Marathon, just shy of his 89th birthday. He ran to raise money for BLISS, a UK charity supporting premature babies, using the slogan: “Oldest running for the youngest.”

Over the years, Singh consistently improved his marathon times, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2011 at the age of 100. Although Guinness World Records did not officially recognize the feat due to lack of birth records from 1911, his British passport and a letter from Queen Elizabeth II confirmed his birthdate as 1 April 1911.

In 2012, he was a torchbearer for the London Olympics. A year later, he ran his final long-distance race—a 10km event in Hong Kong—at the age of 102.

A Humble Star

Despite his fame, Singh remained humble and grounded. He credited his health and long life to a disciplined lifestyle: “Eat less, run more, and stay happy—that’s my secret,” he said in an interview earlier this year.

He refused to run without his turban during the London Marathon, insisting on the importance of cultural identity. That act of principle became one of his proudest moments.

His dedication and positivity inspired millions. Adidas featured him alongside Muhammad Ali in its iconic “Impossible is Nothing” campaign, and he was invited by leaders from both Pakistan and the UK for special honours.

A Life Devoted to Giving Back

Singh dedicated most of his earnings to charitable causes. His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death and announced that all upcoming events, including the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge in March 2026, will now be held in his memory.

The club also announced plans to raise funds for a “Fauja Singh Clubhouse” on his former training route in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992.

Tributes Pour In

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Singh “an exceptional athlete with incredible determination.” UK MP Preet Kaur Gill remembered him as “a truly inspiring man,” while Jas Athwal MP said Singh “inspired millions” and that his “spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever.”

Singh divided his later years between India and the UK. When the BBC visited him in June, he was still active, walking miles daily and looking forward to returning to London to see his family and coach one more time.

“I was the same Fauja Singh before I started running,” he once said, “but running gave my life a purpose. It made me known across the world.”