“IT WAS a life-changing experience” – the words of a police sergeant from Thornbury after crossing the finish line at the London Marathon, having lost eight stone over the past two years.

Sean Underwood, 37, completed his first ever 26.2-mile run on Sunday, having joined more than 40,000 people other runners in the testing conditions for the race – the hottest London Marathon on record.

“For me it was really bad,” he said. “It was for everyone I guess, but it was the hardest thing I have ever done for sure.

“It was very emotional to cross the finish line. The TV cameras picked me up crying like a baby. I couldn’t believe it!”

But the emotion stemmed not just from the run itself, but what completing it meant to Sean, who has shed an incredible 8st over the past two years..

Weighing 23st back in 2016, Sean had the revelation to get in shape after taking part in a rugby match with his son and realising how unfit he was, and has shed the weight through exercise, having taken part in a range of events including half marathons and Tough Mudders.

“I had been seeing a doctor for a number of health issues,” he said, “and when I got on the pitch I was just embarrassed to be there so I decided to lose weight the week after.

“Looking back, this journey has been completely life-changing. I couldn’t even walk up to the school before without getting out of breath and now I have just run a marathon. I can do anything I put my mind to now.”

In the lead up to the event, Sean’s training had been hampered by injury, with barely any running taking place in the weeks beforehand. As such he said he was “just happy to finish”, despite his time of five hours and 20 seconds an hour slower than his original target.

Having undergone physiotherapy to make it to the start line, he said that his target was then just to finish.

“As the race was going on, people were falling and collapsing left, right and centre. It was pretty scary at times so I knocked my pace right back. I didn’t want to be stretchered off.

Running for the Police Dependents Trust, which cares for those injured on duty, and their loved ones, for life, Sean raised more than £2,500 in donations.

“The support has been amazing from everyone," said Sean. "Since Sunday my Twitter has gone nuts to the point I have stopped trying to keep up!”

To donate to Sean's fundraising efforts, click here.