VIDEO: Runner selflessly helps fatigued participant to London finish

The 2017 London Marathon was the largest in event history featuring 39,487 finishers on Sunday morning.

The third of the calendar year’s Abbott World Marathon Majors attracted world-class fields in both the men’s and women’s races and neither disappointed. Mary Keitany set a new women’s-only world record in the marathon running 2:17:01 while Daniel Wanjiru outlasted long distance great Kenenisa Bekele in 2:05:48.

Further back in the pack, some runners were doing everything they could to cross the finish line of the 42.2K. In one case, a runner sacrificed minutes from his finishing time to help out a fellow runner who was in distress. As captured by BBC Sport, Matthew Rees (in white in the video) helped an exhausted David Wyeth (dressed in black) down the final stretch of the race.

Matthew Rees, of @SwanHarrierDev, you've just encompassed everything that's so special about the #LondonMarathon. We salute you. ?? pic.twitter.com/86Ql4LLBEa

— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 23, 2017

After initially helping Wyeth out, a race official came over and the three then made their way to the finish line all while Rees was trying to pump up the crowd to encourage Wyeth to complete the final 200m.

“You’ve just encompassed everything that’s so special about the London Marathon,” the race tweeted referencing the display of sportsmanship. Rees, even after helping out Wyeth, managed to finish in less than three hours clocking 2:52:26 after going through halfway in a blistering 1:14:52.

London – you've done us proud.

Thanks to our runners, volunteers and everyone involved in the best marathon in the ?

We're signing out! ? pic.twitter.com/0xB2AqrGq7

— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 23, 2017

Video

This is exactly what the #LondonMarathon is all about??? pic.twitter.com/fRhkzMflB5

— TCS London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) April 23, 2017

Members of the Royal Family – including Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton – were at the finish line cheering on runners as they completed the iconic distance and race on Sunday morning. The race is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious events.