Good Samaritan helps injured Wymondham man across London Marathon finish line
Chris Giles, from Essex, (left) who helped Wymondham man Louis Hyett round the London Marathon after he suffered an injury. Picture: LOUIS HYETT - Credit: LOUIS HYETT
A first-time London Marathon runner from Norfolk was helped to the finish line by a Good Samaritan after getting struck down with a serious injury.
Louis Hyett, 21, from Tortoiseshell Way in Wymondham, was running the 26.2-mile course through the capital for Vasculitis UK as his 60-year-old grandmother suffers with the rare autoimmune disease.
He was on course to get under four hours but was stopped in his tracks at mile 17 after suffering serious leg cramps from an Achilles tendon injury.
But Mr Hyett, who works for Circle Housing Group, was spurred on by fellow runner Chris Giles, 32, from Grays in Essex, who also suffered with leg cramps during the marathon.
The pair crossed the finish line together in 4hrs 42mins.
Matthew Rees, who helped carry an exhausted runner over the finishing line at the Virgin Money London Marathon. Steven Downes argues that he should have left him. Picture: Jack Hardy/PA Wire - Credit: PA
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Mr Hyett, a former Wymondham High School pupil, said: 'Chris was in a bad way himself. He said he would stay with me no matter what. It helped because he supported me and stuck with me. We were talking to each other to keep each other going. I felt relieved to get over the finish line. At the end we said we would meet up for a beer.'
The 21-year-old was pleased to have raised £1,180 for Vasculitis UK through his marathon effort.
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Mr Giles, a city of London insurance worker who was running the marathon for Mind, said: 'We both probably stopped at the same time.
'When you run a race like that you do it as a group. There were people that gave me a pat on the back so I thought I would help someone else. I said to Louis, 'Let's finish this together,' and that is what happened. It was just me being me.
'Louis is a nice guy. It was nice to have the companionship and good to get to the finish line.
'The London Marathon is a fantastic day with the crowd and adrenalin.'
Mr Hyett was inspired to run the marathon after watching his mother Jenny Hyett, 39, complete two London Marathon events in 2013 and 2014.
She was in the capital watching the run and it is her mother who has vasculitis, which attacks healthy blood vessels.
Miss Hyett, a hairdresser tutor from Tortoiseshell Way in Wymondham, said: 'Chris came to my son's rescue and pulled him back on track. I couldn't be any prouder of Louis and am full of admiration of Chris. Human nature is amazing.'
To donate to Mr Hyett's fundraising page visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Louis-Hyett
Show of support hits the headlines
The defining moment of the 2017 London Marathon was of Matthew Rees helping fellow runner David Wyeth who collapsed close to the end.
Mr Rees sacrificed his time when he stopped 300 metres before the famous finish line on The Mall to help David Wyeth complete the 26.2-mile race.
Mr Rees, a Swansea Harriers Athletics Club member, was having a tough race himself but took the arm of Mr Wyeth, from Chorlton Runners club, and carried him to the finish line.
This act of kindness and support caught the attention of the crowd and news headlines.
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, Mr Rees said: 'I was just about to sprint to the finish when I saw David. His legs were completely jelly-like and he collapsed in front of me. So I decided to forget my race.'
