Two Runners Carry Stranger Across Boston Marathon Finish Line

Aaron Beggs was exhausted and feeling sick as he neared the end of his first Boston Marathon. But when he saw a fellow runner collapse on Boylston Street, his natural instinct kicked in.

Beggs, from Northern Ireland, and Robson De Olivera from Brazil immediately rushed to help Ajay Haridasse, a student at Northeastern University who had fallen just 1,000 feet from the finish line. Together, the two men lifted Haridasse up and carried him the rest of the way to complete the race.

"I looked at my watch, and I looked at him again, and the natural instinct was just to go and pick him up," Beggs said in an interview Thursday. The moment happened during Monday's race as crowds cheered along the iconic course.

Beggs had been struggling himself moments before, reminding himself of friends in his running club who might never get to experience such a legendary race. The energy from college students and local supporters along the route had lifted his spirits when his body wanted to quit.

"If I had to go farther, I would have," Beggs said. "It's fight or flight, and I decided to fight and help him get to our destination."

The spontaneous act of kindness perfectly captured what makes marathon running special. Unlike shorter races focused on competition, marathoners cheer each other on and celebrate finishing together.

Sunny's Take

Video of the three runners crossing the finish line has warmed hearts around the world. Beggs has stayed in touch with Haridasse and hopes to reconnect with De Olivera soon.

The best part? Their finishing time qualified all three men for next year's Boston Marathon, giving them a chance to run together again.

"Three strangers, three different countries, and we'll have a story for the rest of our lives," Beggs said. "It's nice to be nice."