Hundreds of runners pay homage to Kiwi triathlete's fiance and coach Laurent Vidal

Andrea Hewitt's fiance Laurent Vidal died of a suspected heart attack. Photo / Jason Dorday

Hundreds of runners have taken to the streets of Sete in the South of France to pay homage to Laurent Vidal - coach and fiancé of Kiwi triathlon star Andrea Hewitt.

The French Olympian, 31, died in Gigean, near Sete, of a suspected heart attack in his sleep on Tuesday night.

French newspaper Midi Libre reports 250 ran the streets in response to Vidal's brother's call out on social media. The call was posted on Wednesday, a little after 3:30pm Wednesday in France.

Laurent Vidal "embraced the New Zealand culture". Photo / Greg Bowker

An hour and a half later they took to the street along rue de Canaris in the Barrou quarter to do a running tour of the town.