Boston finish-line rescue

Ajay Haridasse collapsed within sight of the Boston Marathon finish on April 20, and two other runners carried him the rest of the way. (apnews.com) The runners who stopped were Aaron Beggs of Northern Ireland and Robson de Oliveira of Brazil, who lifted Haridasse and helped him cover the final stretch to the line on Boylston Street. (apnews.com) Haridasse, a 21-year-old first-time Boston runner, had fallen four times near the 26-mile mark and later said he was preparing to crawl before the two men reached him. (news.sky.com) Beggs told the Belfast Telegraph he saw Haridasse go down a couple of times and decided to stop even though he knew it would cost him a shot at breaking 2 hours 40 minutes. (belfasttelegraph.co.uk) That tradeoff was real. Beggs finished in 2:44:36 and placed 1,884th overall, according to the Boston Athletic Association’s results page. (baa.org) The episode spread far beyond the course because a spectator, Pete Grasso, recorded the moment as dozens of runners streamed past and the crowd roared when the three men moved together toward the finish. (abcnews.com) Haridasse said the assistance also preserved his qualifying time for the 2027 Boston Marathon, which he said he now plans to run. (news.sky.com) The rescue took another toll at the line: Beggs told the Belfast Telegraph that de Oliveira passed out after crossing and needed a wheelchair and medical attention. (belfasttelegraph.co.uk) Beggs was back home in Bangor by April 22 and told the Guardian he was already considering the Belfast City Marathon on May 3, 13 days after Boston, if his recovery allowed it. (theguardian.com) For now, the finish-line image that traveled around the world is three runners crossing together after one of them could no longer get there alone. (theguardian.com)