Runners Help Finish
- At the Boston Marathon, two competitors helped struggling runner Ajay Haridasse to the finish after his legs gave out. - Reports identified Aaron Beggs and Robson de Oliveira as the two who assisted Haridasse near the line. - AP and The Guardian covered the sportsmanship and noted Beggs may run Belfast City Marathon on May 3 if recovered. ( )
Two runners stopped and helped Ajay Haridasse finish the Boston Marathon after his legs gave out near the line. (apnews.com) The moment happened on Boylston Street during the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2026, as Haridasse stumbled after the 26‑mile mark. (apnews.com) Aaron Beggs of Northern Ireland and Brazil’s Robson de Oliveira pulled Haridasse to his feet and supported him roughly 1,000 feet (305 meters) to the finish. (apnews.com) Beggs, a 40‑year‑old from County Down and member of North Down Athletic Club, and de Oliveira were both nearing personal‑best paces before they stopped to help. (thejournal.ie) Haridasse told reporters he fell several times and said without their help he would not have qualified for next year’s Boston Marathon, according to coverage of his comments. (news.sky.com) A spectator, Pete Grasso, filmed the rescue and the clip has circulated widely online; medical staff attended Haridasse and de Oliveira after they crossed the line. (apnews.com) Beggs’s club praised him as a “phenomenal sportsman,” and local reports said Beggs finished in about 2:44:36 after adding seconds to assist Haridasse. (thejournal.ie) News outlets from the Associated Press to The Guardian highlighted the incident as an example of sportsmanship, and video of the three on Boylston Street has been shared across social platforms. (apnews.com) “Part of my instinct was just to go over and help,” Beggs said after the race, a remark his club and local media repeated as he returned home. (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)
