The 36-year-old’s third consecutive European title was won in a time of 3 hours, 32 minutes, 33 seconds – breaking the 2008 mark of Denis Nizhegorodov of 3:34:14 by over ninety seconds.

An early break featuring Russian pair Mikhail Ryzhov and Ivan Noskov looked promising until they were joined at the 5km mark by Diniz.

Heffernan was involved in a three-man chasing pack also featuring Slovak Matej Toth and Noskov when the Russian had been dropped by the leading duo.

The Moscow world champion looked to be ready to pounce when he moved up to third at the halfway point, but by 30km did not look his usual comfortable self.

When Heffernan finally called it a day, he was lying sixth, two minutes behind fifth-placer Ihor Hlavan of Ukraine and five-and-a-half minutes behind the lead.

Heffernan said afterwards: “Sixth didn’t appeal to me. After winning the World Championships last year, the only thing I wanted today was to win. I wanted to win the European Championships.

“I followed similar tactics (to usual). I didn’t want the group to get away. I knew they were going to go off hard.

“I felt if I was in the shape I was in last year that they’d have never got that far away from me.

“As it turned out, Yohann broke the world record and it just went from me, and my plan went and my tactics went.

“It didn’t pan out the way I wanted it to. It’s very disappointing.”

Brendan Boyce finished a creditable 16th in a new personal best 3:51:34.

The medals in the 50k walk are presented later at the main stadium, but the flower ceremony was led by Irish technical offical and Setanta Sports athletics commentator Pierce O’Callaghan.

Back at the Letzigrund, Paul Robinson and Ciarán O’Lionáird qualified for Sunday’s 1500m final.

Robinson qualified automatically by finishing fourth in the second semi in 3:39.83 – a slower race than the opening semi which featured Ó Lionáird and John Travers.

Ó Lionáird finished seventh in 3:39.79, Travers 14th in 3:49.73.