A marathon runner was hit by a car and needed his leg amputated just hours after coming second in a race.

Luiz Lucas, 41, was hit by a high-end car as he rode his motorbike through Tres Lagoas, Brazil, on the night of 14th November.

Eyewitnesses told police that after the collision, the driver and passenger abandoned the luxury vehicle and fled the scene through an area of scrubland.

Hours earlier, marathon runner Luiz had taken part in the five-kilometre-long 2a Corrida dos Aventureiros da Cascalheira – Desafio Jupia, coming second.

After the accident, eyewitnesses called emergency services. Paramedics arrived on the scene and took him to hospital conscious.

However, due to the serious nature of his injuries, his right leg, which had been trapped under a wheel, had to be amputated from the knee down.

Police found that the abandoned Mercedes-Benz had irregular documentation. A bank card, a mobile phone, and the car key were found inside the vehicle.

At the time of reporting, the identities of those inside the car at the time of the collision had not been ascertained.

Police in Tres Lagoas are investigating the case.