SAVANNAH, Georgia Its not uncommon for runners to get emotional when they complete a big race, but one mans unforgettable finish continues to bring tears to hundreds of thousands.
Robert McCoy, 49, could see the end in sight as he rounded a final corner of the Savannah Rock n Roll Half Marathon over the weekend, according to NBC News. The race was an important one for him he was dedicating it to the memory of his father, who died this spring from cancer.
But just 200 yards from the finish, McCoy tripped and hit the pavement face first hard.
Sgt. John Cain of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department watched McCoy go down and immediately rushed to his aid. As he and other officers tried to help McCoy, the runner made his mission clear.
He was bleeding pretty good at the time, and he kept saying, in a whispering type of voice, Ive got to finish this race. Please help me, Ive got to finish this race, Cain told NBC. My heart bled for him.
Since it would have been extremely difficult for McCoy to continue on his own, Cain decided to step in and help him accomplish what hed come to do. He lifted the injured man up, and slowly, side by side, the pair jogged to the finish line.
I felt the need to help him finish this race so bad, Cain told WTVR. I wouldve carried him to the finish line if I had to.
A local tourism official snapped a photo of the two men as they finished, and the image quickly went viral after it was posted to the police departments Facebook page garnering hundreds of thousands of views, likes, shares and comments within days.
McCoy a cancer survivor himself was so moved by Cains action that he decided to hand off his race medal to the officer who made his finish possible.
He deserved it more than I did, because if it werent for him, I wouldnt have finished the race for my dad, McCoy told NBC. Hes the real hero. He kind of scooped me off the ground and helped me through there at the end.
The men both agree that the experience bonded them in a way they wont soon forget.
I could feel in my heart that he needed to finish, there was a purpose for him doing so and he wanted to accomplish the goal, Cain told USA Today. I am just glad I was in a position to help him do that. He is an inspiration to me, he is the hero in this story.
Robert McCoy, 49, could see the end in sight as he rounded a final corner of the Savannah Rock n Roll Half Marathon over the weekend, according to NBC News. The race was an important one for him he was dedicating it to the memory of his father, who died this spring from cancer.
But just 200 yards from the finish, McCoy tripped and hit the pavement face first hard.
Sgt. John Cain of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department watched McCoy go down and immediately rushed to his aid. As he and other officers tried to help McCoy, the runner made his mission clear.
He was bleeding pretty good at the time, and he kept saying, in a whispering type of voice, Ive got to finish this race. Please help me, Ive got to finish this race, Cain told NBC. My heart bled for him.
Since it would have been extremely difficult for McCoy to continue on his own, Cain decided to step in and help him accomplish what hed come to do. He lifted the injured man up, and slowly, side by side, the pair jogged to the finish line.
I felt the need to help him finish this race so bad, Cain told WTVR. I wouldve carried him to the finish line if I had to.
A local tourism official snapped a photo of the two men as they finished, and the image quickly went viral after it was posted to the police departments Facebook page garnering hundreds of thousands of views, likes, shares and comments within days.
McCoy a cancer survivor himself was so moved by Cains action that he decided to hand off his race medal to the officer who made his finish possible.
He deserved it more than I did, because if it werent for him, I wouldnt have finished the race for my dad, McCoy told NBC. Hes the real hero. He kind of scooped me off the ground and helped me through there at the end.
The men both agree that the experience bonded them in a way they wont soon forget.
I could feel in my heart that he needed to finish, there was a purpose for him doing so and he wanted to accomplish the goal, Cain told USA Today. I am just glad I was in a position to help him do that. He is an inspiration to me, he is the hero in this story.