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Britains strongest man Marc Iliffe found deadDate: 13.02.2003
Posted by: Anabolic Info Team United Kingdom
Britain’s strongest man Marc Iliffe has been found dead in the purpose-built gym of his home in Wellingborough.
Mr Iliffe, 30, was found hanged at his home in Vivian Road on Tuesday.
Shocked friends and family are said to be mystified by the death of the man who has competed in two World’s Strongest Man events, televised by the BBC. No suicide has been found and there had been no indication he had any problems.
Mr Iliffe, who was married to June, had two stepsons, aged 15 and 19, and a six-year-old son, Marc.
Fellow bodybuilder and close friend Vince D’Alessandro, who owns the Bodyshapers Gym in School Lane, Kettering, said: “He was a complete gentleman – you could not wish to meet a nicer man. I can’t believe this has happened – I’m really, really shocked.
“He often came over to the gym and I was only talking to him a couple of weeks ago. He was never big-headed in any way when he won competitions.
“I’ve known him for ten years and he will be missed by everyone.”
At 6ft and 18st, Mr Iliffe was one of the smallest international competitors, but devoted his life to the sport.
His training partner and fellow strongman Bill Pittuck, who is based in Northampton, said: “I just can’t believe it. We spent nearly ten years training together.
“I spoke to him on the phone all the time and the last time I spoke to him he seemed fine.
“He was a brilliant strongman. He never won the world title but for a Briton to even get to the finals
is a fantastic achievement.
We miss him so much.
“Marc was so dedicated to the sport, it won’t be the same without him. He trained hard and was successful. Everyone is in shock.
“He used to love the Atlas stones event (in which competitors have to pick up giant balls of stone and place them on high walls). He was good at that and he performed so well to win the British title and then go on to compete twice in the world championships.”
Mr Iliffe, who worked at Ilmor Engineering, Brixworth, was believed to be in training for the new season of events as he looked to defend his British crown. He had recently fought back from surgery to correct a split disc in his back that had caused problems with weakness in his legs.
A statement on his personal website, dated November 20 last year, said: “The surgery went really well and I am on the mend and looking forward to training again. Hopefully I will be back next season to try to win Britain’s Strongest Man for a second time.
“I was disappointed at not being fit enough to do well at the ‘Worlds’ after being in such good shape for the ‘Britains’, but there’s always another time.”
Mr Iliffe filmed a TV advertisement for the Pulp Hits Album in November with Jarvis Cocker which was shown on TV before Christmas. Last year he was also cast in a film called Transfer, in which he was to play a gangster.
An inquest will be held. A spokesman at the coroner’s office in Kettering said: “A post-mortem has not yet been carried out and until we have the results of that, we will be making no further comment.” |
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