‘My natural instinct was to help. I’ve been brought up with the attitude that you should put others before yourself’
A Co Down runner has received global recognition after coming to the aid of a fellow competitor at this week’s Boston Marathon.
Former army corporal Aaron Beggs, 40, displayed selfless sportsmanship when he went to help struggling runner Ajay Haridasse after dozens of other entrants ran past the man. Ajay gallantly tried to stand up before collapsing several times due to sheer fatigue just 200 metres from the iconic race’s finish line. The exhausted American athlete accepted Aaron’s offer of a hand up before the NI runner pulled him to his feet. The pair were then joined by Brazilian Robson De Oliveira who helped Aaron get the struggling Ajay across the finishing line.
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The Bangor maintenance worker said: “I was on for a personal best; I remember though at around two miles to go I was feeling the pain, so was talking to myself, to encourage myself to just keep going.
“I came on to Boylston Street, where the finish line is – could see it in the distance, and that’s when I noticed Ajay, trying his best to stand up multiple times. My natural instinct was to help. I’ve been brought up with the attitude that you should put others before yourself.”
Aaron sacrificed a PB marathon time as he crossed the line in just under 2hrs and 45 minutes, outside his best result of 2hrs 43mins and 50secs at the Dublin Marathon.
The display of international sportsmanship has won Aaron high praise from people all over the world. This included a proud declaration from the social media of Aaron’s athletic club.
A post on the Northern Down Athletic Club’s Facebook page read: “Our superstar on the finishing straight at Boston marathon to a time of 2hrs and 44mins.
“He couldn’t pass an athlete in distress. What a gentleman. What a phenomenal sportsman.”
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