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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Manchester Marathon: Stranger helps blind runner finish race | Manchester Marathon: Stranger helps blind runner finish race |
| (about 1 hour 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, who is an Ironman triathlon world record holder, 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, who is an Ironman triathlon world record holder, 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'." |
| 'Lovely Leeds accent' | 'Lovely Leeds accent' |
| At that point, Mr Whitehouse "popped up" and intervened, Mr Ahmad said. | At that point, Mr Whitehouse "popped up" and intervened, Mr Ahmad said. |
| "He says in his lovely Leeds accent, 'go on lads carry on, keep going', and I went 'well my guide can't keep going, so how about taking me to the end of the race?' | "He says in his lovely Leeds accent, 'go on lads carry on, keep going', and I went 'well my guide can't keep going, so how about taking me to the end of the race?' |
| "The man did not even hesitate but said 'I don't know how long I can carry on for either'," Mr Ahmad added. | "The man did not even hesitate but said 'I don't know how long I can carry on for either'," Mr Ahmad added. |
| Mr Whitehouse, from Leeds, said: "I was really struggling and I just said, 'I'd be glad to help out, you'd be helping me'. | Mr Whitehouse, from Leeds, said: "I was really struggling 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." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |