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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Manchester Marathon: Stranger helps blind runner finish race | Manchester Marathon: Stranger helps blind runner finish race |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Haseeb Ahmad was helped by Stuart Whitehouse after his guide runner had to drop out of the race | Haseeb Ahmad was helped by Stuart Whitehouse after his guide runner had to drop out of the race |
| A blind runner has thanked a stranger who stepped in midway through a marathon to help him finish. | A blind runner has thanked a stranger who stepped in midway through a marathon to help him finish. |
| Haseeb Ahmad was 18 miles into Sunday's Manchester Marathon when his guide runner had to drop out. | Haseeb Ahmad was 18 miles into Sunday's Manchester Marathon when his guide runner had to drop out. |
| Mr Ahmad, from Leicester, was keen to continue and asked the next runner, Stuart Whitehouse, to take over. | Mr Ahmad, from Leicester, was keen to continue and asked the next runner, Stuart Whitehouse, to take over. |
| They crossed the finish line together and Mr Ahmad said: "He's a great guy, he didn't hesitate, I think we will be lifelong friends." | They crossed the finish line together and Mr Ahmad said: "He's a great guy, he didn't hesitate, I think we will be lifelong friends." |
| With more than 30,000 participants, it was billed as the second biggest running event in the UK. | With more than 30,000 participants, it was billed as the second biggest running event in the UK. |
| The race had been going well until Mr Ahmad's guide runner developed blisters, then cramp and eventually collapsed. | The race had been going well until Mr Ahmad's guide runner developed blisters, then cramp and eventually collapsed. |
| After 10 minutes of treatment, he recovered but could not continue. | After 10 minutes of treatment, he recovered but could not continue. |
| Mr Ahmad said: "I walked back on to the course and I thought, 'you know what? The next person who comes along, I'm going to just ask'." | Mr Ahmad said: "I walked back on to the course and I thought, 'you know what? The next person who comes along, I'm going to just ask'." |
| 'Lifelong friends' | 'Lifelong friends' |
| Mr Whitehouse, from Leeds, said: "I stopped to say, 'you are doing really well' and Haseeb said, 'my guide has pulled out, any chance you can help?' | |
| "I was really struggling at that point and I just said, 'I'd be glad to help out, you'd be helping me'. | "I was really struggling at that point and I just said, 'I'd be glad to help out, you'd be helping me'. |
| "It was weird, I found an inner strength. I picked up the pace and we were encouraging each other, talking all the way." | "It was weird, I found an inner strength. I picked up the pace and we were encouraging each other, talking all the way." |
| Mr Whitehouse, who almost did not take part due to injury and mental health issues, added: "It's changed my life, I've made such a great friend." | Mr Whitehouse, who almost did not take part due to injury and mental health issues, added: "It's changed my life, I've made such a great friend." |
| Mr Ahmed, who works for the NHS, said: "It makes you feel humble and grateful. | Mr Ahmed, who works for the NHS, said: "It makes you feel humble and grateful. |
| "He's a great guy, he didn't hesitate, I think we will be lifelong friends." | "He's a great guy, he didn't hesitate, I think we will be lifelong friends." |
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