Runner Collapses Short of Boston Marathon Finish Line – See Why the Crowd 'Exploded Into Loudest Cheer' Moments Later

A runner reportedly collapsed short of the Boston Marathon finish line on Monday — but that wasn’t the end of the marathon for him.

Rather than pass him by, four runners actually picked him up and carried him all the way to the finish line. The moving act was captured in a photo and tweeted by TheFix’s Wesley Lowery on Monday.

The man reportedly fell down around the 26 mile mark, near where the first explosion went off in the horrific Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.

Runner gave out near 26 mile mark, right by the site where 1st bomb went off. 1 guy stopped to help, then another pic.twitter.com/gcwMxpssdK

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 21, 2014

But his legs just couldn't do it. The group struggled a few feet. Another man stopped to help, and a woman pic.twitter.com/nM8FGP9Vgx

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 21, 2014

Determined, the two new saviors lifted his legs. He had just a few hundred feet to go. They would get him there pic.twitter.com/5tXvNyDGUJ

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery)

April 21, 2014

The crowd exploded into loudest cheer I've heard today. Walking, then jogging, they all, all 5, finished the race pic.twitter.com/HE4QJnh35L

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 21, 2014

Runner falls just short of the finish. Four others pick him up and carry him. I'm literally in tears pic.twitter.com/vb9cjxG6pQ

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 21, 2014

This is America, ladies and gentlemen.

(H/T: Washington Post)

Featured image via Jim Rogash/Getty Images