Islamabad, July 17, 2025: Fauja Singh, known as the world’s oldest marathon runner, had passed away in a road accident at the age of 114, his biographer shared on Tuesday. Singh, who was born in India but held British nationality, was famously called the “Turbaned Tornado”. He lost his life after being hit by a vehicle in the Jalandhar district of Punjab on Monday.
“My Turbaned Tornado is no longer with us,” wrote Khushwant Singh, his biographer, on social media platform X. “He was hit by an unknown vehicle… in his hometown, Bias, while crossing the road. Farewell, my dear Fauja.”
Police have arrested a Canada-based man who allegedly drove his SUV over Fauja Singh, killing the world’s oldest marathoner. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jalandhar Rural told a press conference that Amritpal Singh Dhillon (26) was arrested on Tuesday night and his vehicle has also been seized.
Although Singh did not have an official birth certificate, his family said he was born on April 1, 1911. He kept running full marathons (42 km) until he turned 100.
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His final race was a 10-kilometer run at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon at age 101, where he completed the race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.
He rose to global fame after starting distance running at the age of 89, following the loss of his wife and one son. Watching marathons on TV encouraged him to begin running.
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Even though many saw him as the oldest marathon runner, Guinness World Records did not officially recognize it due to the lack of a birth certificate, which was common in British-ruled India.
Singh also carried the Olympic torch in Athens 2004 and London 2012 and featured in ads with stars like David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.
