'He was a gent': Marathon runner who collapsed praises the man who helped him across the finish line

One of the defining moments of the London Marathon was when a man stopped running to help another who had fallen down, exhausted.

With their arms around each other, the two managed to cross the finish line together.

Many said the pair "captured the essence of what true sport should be", as some speculated the heroic man who picked up the other could have sacrificed his personal best to do so.

David Wyeth ,the man who collapsed, and Matthew Rees, the man who helped him, spoke today on Radio 4 about their experiences at the race.

Matthew Rees spoke of what happened the moment the other runner collapsed.

He said: "I came round the final corner and I saw David's legs give way undeneath him

"I thought forget my sprint finish and just went to help him get over the finish line

"I got him up and told him we were going to make the finish".

Mr Wyeth wasn't sure why he collapsed and said he would be asking the medical team - as he had prepared for the race and was doing fine up until the 20th mile.

He said: "I was so well prepared! I had done everything right in preparing for London. For the first 20 miles I was in great shape.

"It became a monumental battle at the 25 mile mark.

"I realised my legs were going beneath me and I couldnt go in a straight line.

"I was on the floor and the next thing I knew, Matthew was in my ear encouraging me to get up."

The pair made headlines and were incredibly popular on social media as the video made the rounds.

Matthew said he didn't mind sacrificing an earlier finish time: "Yeah I'd had a tough race and was looking forward to it being all over.

"I just wanted to get to that finish line and so did he.

"There was 200m left and I wasn't going to stop until we got to that finish line.

"It was just a natural thing to do, to go over.

"He was struggling and I wanted him to get to the end.

"The few seconds didn't matter to me to help someone up."

Finally, Mr Wyatt said he was thankful for the "gentleman" who helped him: "Absolutely - I am so thankful, he is such a gentleman to have stopped.

"As I mentioned we were strangers, I didn't know what his day was like.

"I was urging him on and he still stayed even when the volunteers came, he stayed."

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