Adidas has issued a swift apology after sending a marketing email to its customers congratulating runners for “surviving” this year’s Boston Marathon.

The email sent by Adidas Running to customers on Tuesday used the subject line: “Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon!”

The email then read: “You’ve conquered Boston. Share your race day experience and shop official gear.”

Customers were quick to criticise the sports brand and remind it of the real survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, in which three people were killed and more than 260 were wounded.

Last year more than 30 survivors of the attack and their relatives ran in the race. Two of the runners competed with prosthetic legs.

At least two survivors competed in this year’s race.

Adidas has apologised for the email. The company said it is “incredibly sorry” and called the Boston Marathon “inspirational”.

“We are incredibly sorry. Clearly, there was no thought given to the insensitive email subject line we sent Tuesday. We deeply apologise for our mistake,” the statement read.