Runner Bill Iffrig was mere feet from the finish line of Monday’s Boston Marathon when a blast knocked him to the ground.
A photo of the 78-year-old Washington state man lying dazed before a group of police officers went viral — one of countless images depicting the shock and confusion of the twin bombings that killed three people and injured dozens at the race.
Iffrig, who was running in his third Boston Marathon, said he was “feeling pretty good” about his time when he saw the finish line in sight about 15 feet away. Then he heard a blast and his body trembled.
“The shock waves must have hit my body, and my legs just started going like noodles," Iffrig later told ESPN, "and I knew I was going down right there.”
An assistant helps 78-year-old Bill Iffrig after he fell when a bomb exploded at the Boston Marathon on Monday. In the distance, a second explosion was set off.
Video taken of the finish line the moment the bomb went off shows Iffrig collapsing.
He said he was never unconscious, but it took a few seconds to get his bearings. Cops standing before Iffrig, who was in a bright orange tank top, quickly mobilized.
“I made an attempt to get up, and one of the assistants came over and gave me a hand,” Iffrig said. “He went over and walked me to the finish line so I can finish.”
Runners Bill Iffrig, 78, was near the finish line when the first explosion struck.
With his hotel about six blocks away, Iffrig refused the use of a wheelchair.
He had a scrape on his knee and ringing in his ears.
“My ears are still not the same right now,” said the retired builder.
Video captures the moment the first of two bombs exploded at Monday’s Boston Marathon. Bill Iffrig, 78, says he fell after feeling the shock waves.
His son, Mark Iffrig of Seattle, was on Facebook posting about his father competing in the 26.2-mile race when he noticed reports about two blasts along the end of the course.
“It’s horrible,” Mark Iffrig told The Associated Press after learning that his father was still running when it happened. “He said it was quite a concussive blast. He was a little dazed."
But Bill Iffrig is an experienced runner, and was named the Everett Herald newspaper’s Man of the Year in Sports in 2009.
“He’s a hell of a runner,” Mark Iffrig said.
His dad, however, isn’t sure if he’ll be back in Boston for next year’s marathon.
“I don’t know about that,” he said with a laugh.
Source: Nydailynews