'Superstar' runners praised for helping exhausted man finish marathon
Two runners go viral for helping carry exhausted man over the finish line.
After almost three hours on their feet and the finish line in sight, two runners sacrificed personal bests to come to the rescue of an exhausted competitor at the Boston Marathon. Aaron Beggs was first to stop to pull Ajay Haridasse up off the ground after he fell and could not get up. With Haridasse still struggling to stay on his feet, another runner, Robson De Oliveira, stepped in and the pair put their arms around Haridasse to help him across the line.
Beggs is a member of North Down Athletic Club in Northern Ireland, which hailed him as a "superstar" who "couldn't pass an athlete in distress". "What a gentleman! What a phenomenal sportsman.
Our Aaron Beggs," the club said in a post in social media. The incident was filmed by several spectators who witnessed Haridasse falling shortly after the 26 mile (41. 8km) mark.
The footage showed a debilitated Haridasse making several attempts to get back on his feet while onlookers shouted encouragement. Dozens of competitors passed the struggling athlete, until Beggs, dressed in a yellow and blue North Down Athletic Club vest, stopped to provide assistance. He put both his hands out to pull Haridasse up off the ground, but struggled to steady the exhausted runner.