ZAC Purchase can hold his head high – that was the heartfelt message from devastated fans in Worcester as he agonisingly missed out on a gold meal.

The former King’s School pupil and rowing partner Mark Hunter had to be content with silver in the lightweight men’s double scull final after being overtaken right at the finish.

They were roared on by about 150 fans at the school’s Michael Baker Boathouse on Saturday with pupils, parents, rowers, coaches and staff watching on a 70-inch high definition screen.

Dynamic Danes Mads Rasmussen and Rasmus Quist denied Zac, aged 26, a repeat of the gold medal he won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – not that it dampened spirits at the venue on Saturday.

Jim Chalmers, the head of rowing at the school, said: “You have to be very strong-minded to make it to the level he has.”

Union flags waved as the seconds ticked away to the start of the race and the British pair made a flying start.

But within seconds it was clear something was wrong and their boat slowed to a stop in the water.

The crowd in the boat-house waited anxiously to find out what had happened, until it became clear Purchase’s sliding seat had become stuck.

Because the accident had happened within 100 metres of the start officials ruled that the race could be started again.

“They were very lucky,” said rowing coach Keith Tribe. “If anything happens once you’ve passed that 100-metre line, the race continues and it’s just your bad luck.”

The race began again and if the cheers at the boathouse were loud before, they were deafening from that moment on as the pair established a commanding lead.

The fans were willing them on with yells and whoops of encouragement, and they stayed ahead of Denmark and New Zealand through the one-quarter, halfway and three-quarter stages.

But with a final burst of effort the Danes pushed ahead in the last few metres to grab the gold.

The cheering died to sighs of disappointment, which was very soon replaced by loud applause.

“It’s very disappointing but it’s always close in racing at this level,” said Mr Tribe.

“In the end the Danes just found that extra bit of speed.”