During the Boston Marathon a couple of weeks ago, runner Pedro Arieta performed a remarkable act of kindness by helping a fellow competitor who collapsed near the finish line. Lucia Kempton was filming at the 26.2-mile mark when she captured the moment on camera, showing the struggling runner fall, unable to get up despite cheers of encouragement from the crowd. Arieta, a Brazilian runner, immediately stopped, helped lift the man, and walked him to the finish.
Kempton describes the scene as an incredible portrayal of humanity, recalling a similar moment from the previous year when two men helped a woman cross the finish line. As Arieta assisted the exhausted runner, the crowd's cheers grew louder, recognizing both his sacrifice and the spirit of sportsmanship. The emotional moment quickly gained attention online.
The video quickly went viral on TikTok, racking up over 28-million views. Kempton says the video resonates because it reminds people of genuine human kindness. She calls the moment a beautiful example of the Boston Marathon’s tradition of perseverance and community support.
Source: USA TODAY
Photo: JOSEPH PREZIOSO / AFP / Getty Images