Fauja Singh, known as the Turbaned Tornado, passed away at 114 in a tragic hit-and-run accident in Punjab on July 14, 2025. The world’s oldest marathon runner, a British Sikh of Indian origin, was struck by an unidentified vehicle while walking near his home in Beas village, Jalandhar.
On July 14, 2025, Fauja Singh was walking along the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway when a speeding vehicle hit him around 3:30 p.m. His son, Harbinder Singh, said the family rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he passed away around 8:00 p.m. due to head injuries. The driver fled the scene, and police have filed a case to investigate the hit-and-run. The loss of Fauja Singh, the Turbaned Tornado, has left the global running community in mourning.
Born on April 1, 1911, in Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab, Fauja Singh faced early struggles. His legs were weak, and he couldn’t walk until he was five years old. Despite this, he grew up to work as a farmer in Punjab. In 1992, after his wife, Gian Kaur, passed away, Singh moved to East London to live with his son. This move marked the start of his remarkable journey as the Turbaned Tornado.
Fauja Singh’s running journey started at 89, after the death of his fifth son, Kuldip, in 1994. To cope with his grief, he began jogging and later took up competitive running. In 2000, he completed his first London Marathon in 6 hours and 54 minutes, earning global attention. Moreover, in 2011, at age 100, Singh made history by becoming the first centenarian to finish a marathon, completing the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes, and 6 seconds. However, Guinness World Records did not recognize this feat due to the lack of a birth certificate from 1911.
In celebration of the @greatnorthrun_ this weekend, we thought @FaujaSinghJi would be the ideal #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/2SO1xUFdcV
— Age UK Gateshead (@AgeUKGateshead) September 7, 2015
Additionally, in 2011, Singh set eight world age-group records in one day at the Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet in Toronto. These included the 100m in 23.14 seconds, 200m in 52.23 seconds, and 400m in 2:13.48. His personal best marathon time came in 2003 at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, finishing in 5 hours and 40 minutes in the over-90 category.
Fauja Singh’s achievements went beyond running. In 2003, he became the first non-American to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for promoting racial tolerance. In 2011, he was awarded the Pride of India title. He also appeared in advertising campaigns with stars like David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. Furthermore, Singh, a vegetarian, became the oldest person to feature in a PETA campaign. His biography, Turbaned Tornado, written by Khushwant Singh, was released in 2011 at the House of Lords in London. A biopic titled Fauja, directed by Omung Kumar B, was announced in 2021.
Singh also served as a torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics and was personally congratulated by Queen Elizabeth II on his 100th birthday. Throughout his career, he raised funds for charities, including for premature babies, and promoted Sikh culture worldwide with the help of his trainer, Harminder Singh.
Fauja Singh retired from competitive running at 101 after finishing a 10km race in Hong Kong in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds in 2013. Even after retiring, he continued to inspire by attending marathons to cheer for runners. His vegetarian diet and dedication to fitness made him a symbol of healthy aging.
