The second most senior officer in the RAF has died after collapsing¹ while taking part in a charity triathlon, the Ministry² of Defence has said.

英国国防部证实，皇家空军第二高级军官克里斯多夫·莫兰在参加慈善铁人三项比赛时突然昏倒后死亡。

Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Moran was taken ill during a charity triathlon

Air Chief Marshal（空军上尉） Sir Christopher Moran was competing in the event at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old father-of-three had served as Commander-in-Chief of Air Command for the past 14 months.

Chief of Air Staff Sir Stephen Dalton said he was "a highly respected and courageous⁴（有胆量的，勇敢的） leader".

'Great sadness'

Sir Christopher was president of RAF Triathlon（铁人三项） and was competing in a sprint⁵（短跑，冲刺） version of the event on Wednesday with about 80 other competitors.

It consisted of a 400m swim, 22km bike ride and a 5km run, and it was during the running stage that he collapsed⁶.

He was taken by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford³ where he was pronounced dead.

Paying tribute to him, Sir Stephen said: "It is with great sadness and shock that I announce the untimely（不合时宜的，过早的） death of Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Moran.

"A highly respected and courageous leader, this tragic⁷ loss comes as a huge blow to the Royal Air Force and, indeed, Defence at large.

"Most importantly, our prayers and thoughts are with his family, to whom I offer my most sincere condolences（哀悼，慰问） on behalf of the Royal Air Force, serving and retired⁸."

Sir Christopher had a distinguished⁹ career, starting out as a Harrier jump jet pilot before rising through the RAF ranks.

He served in the Falklands War, and later led RAF and Royal Navy fast jet operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

He also served as Equerry to the Duke of Edinburgh in the early 1990s.

In his spare time, Sir Christopher enjoyed skiing, sailing and reading military history. He was also Admiral of the RAF Sailing Association.

He leaves wife Elizabeth and their two daughters, who are both at university, and son, who is at school.