Beas Pind, Punjab: Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner known worldwide as the “Turbaned Tornado,” passed away on the evening of July 14, 2025, after being struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway near his native village, Beas Pind, in Punjab. He was 114.
According to his son, Harbinder Singh, Fauja Singh maintained a disciplined lifestyle and walked daily in the afternoon. Around 3:30 PM on Monday, while crossing the highway during his routine walk, he was hit by a speeding vehicle. The family rushed him to a nearby hospital, but despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries around 8:00 PM.
Local police have registered an FIR and are examining CCTV footage from nearby locations to identify the vehicle and the driver responsible for the accident.
Fauja Singh’s life was nothing short of extraordinary. Born in 1911, Fauja Singh was so weak that he began to walk properly at the age of 5 years. Later he had a brief stint as an amateur runner in his youth. However, he gave up the sport and led a quiet life until later decades. He emigrated to England in 1992, settling in East London with his son following the death of his wife, Gian Kaur.
Tragedy struck again in 1994 when his fifth son, Kuldip Singh, died. To cope with his grief, Fauja Singh returned to running at the age of 83. What began as a form of emotional recovery soon became a lifelong mission. By the year 2000, at age 89, he took up competitive running seriously and rose to international fame after completing the London Marathon. His endurance and unwavering spirit made him an inspiration across the globe, especially in the Sikh and South Asian diaspora.
Fauja Singh ran multiple marathons well past his centenary year, becoming a beacon of hope and motivation for people of all ages, proving that age is no limit to achieving greatness. His life story has been the subject of documentaries and books and will continue to inspire athletes and non-athletes alike.
