A hit-and-run in his hometown ended an impressive life that lasted well over a century — but his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those he inspired.
Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner and an enduring symbol of perseverance, has died at 114 after being struck by a car in his native village in Punjab, India.
Fauja Singh at age 102, running at his home in Beas, India on March 20, 2014. | Source: Getty Images
On July 14, 2025, around 3 p.m., Fauja was walking near his home in Beas — a village in the Jalandhar district of Punjab — when a car hit him. The driver then fled the scene without rendering medical aid to the injured runner.
Fauja’s death was confirmed by his longtime coach, Harmander Singh, in a statement shared on Facebook by the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend, England, on July 14, 2025.
Front gate of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara temple in Gravesend, England on July 12, 2024. | Source: Getty Images
“It is with the utmost sadness that I can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India. He succumbed to injuries caused by a vehicle while crossing the road close to his home,” said Harmander.
The driver of the car that hit Fauja was subsequently identified as Amritpal Singh Dhillon. The 26-year-old Indian man had been working in Canada, where his mother and sister live, and had returned to India on June 23 to build his home.
Fauja Singh (second from left) interviewed by BBC journalist during the London Marathon. From a video dated August 6, 2012. | Source: YouTube/BBC
By July 16, police had arrested Amritpal and seized his white Toyota Fortuner SUV. According to Senior Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh Virk, the suspect wasn’t aware that the person he had hit was Fauja until he watched the news.
Police also stated that the driver had been speeding when he struck Fauja. They added that if Amritpal had taken him to the hospital, he might have survived. Fauja died around 7 p.m. while receiving medical treatment.
Fauja Singh shakes hands with onlookers during the London Marathon. From a video dated August 6, 2012. | Source: YouTube/BBC
Fauja was born on April 1, 1911, in Beas, to a family that worked the land as farmers. As a child, he couldn’t walk until he was five years old, and his family thought he was disabled. His legs were very frail, and he struggled to cover long distances.
He became a farmer to help support his family, married, and had children. Decades later, his wife passed away, and in 1992, he moved to England with his son. They settled in Ilford, and he began running to help cope with the grief.
Fauja Singh waves at the camera while sitting cross-legged on a sawed-off tree trunk next to cattle in Jalandhar, India on September 13, 2016. | Source: Getty Images
At age 89, Fauja started running in serious marathons, completing the London Marathon in under seven hours. He would go on to set or break multiple records for his age bracket well into his 90s and 100s.
In 2011, he became the first person over 100 to finish a marathon after completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes, and 6 seconds.
Fauja Singh and race director David Bedford running over the Millennium Bridge after the Flora London Marathon on April 1, 2004. | Source: Getty Images
Fauja didn’t hold a Guinness World Record because the organization required a birth certificate — paperwork India did not issue at the time. His passport did confirm his age, though — as did the letter Queen Elizabeth sent on his 100th birthday.
After becoming the oldest marathoner, Fauja served as a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics. He retired at the age of 101, after finishing a 10 km run in Hong Kong in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds.
Fauja Singh warming up before the Hong Kong Marathon on February 22, 2013. | Source: Getty Images
Fauja’s running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, will dedicate upcoming events to his memory. On March 29, 2026, they’ll be holding the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge to celebrate his life and achievements.
The organization will also redouble efforts to raise funds for the construction of a new facility, the Fauja Singh Clubhouse. It will be located on the same Ilford route where he used to train in England.
Fauja’s passing has touched many communities. Age UK, a British charity focused on aging and the elderly, shared a heartfelt statement on Facebook.
“We’re saddened by the news of Fauja Singh’s passing. He remains an inspiration to us all, having run his first marathon at 89, and became the first man over 100 to run one,” wrote the organization.
“We are grateful for all the support Fauja gave Age UK over many years, and our thoughts are with his family 💜,” they added.
Fauja had long been the subject of public interest. In a 2012 BBC documentary, Fauja’s assistant shared some of his health tips in an interview.
According to the assistant, Fauja followed no special dietary guidelines — just a “simple farmer’s diet” with plenty of fresh food. “But his secret is portion control,” he said, adding:
“He eats what would be considered half a portion — almost a child’s portion. That’s likely half the calories you or I consume.”
Fauja’s legacy will live on through upcoming commemorative events, as well as through his running club and charity, and through all those positively impacted by his inspirational story.
We send our condolences to his family at this difficult time.
