Boston Marathon runner praises emergency services

A runner associated with Haywards Heath Harriers was lucky to escape without injury after completing the Boston Marathon before bomb explosions left a scene of devastation and shock.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Apr 2013, 18:10 BST
David with his medal at the finish, before the bombs exploded.David with his medal at the finish, before the bombs exploded.
David with his medal at the finish, before the bombs exploded.

David Roper, an associate member of the harriers, completed Monday’s marathon in three hours and 31 minutes after qualifying for the prestigious event with a time gained at the Brighton Marathon last year.

As he prepared to fly home, David, who is pictured at the finish, told the Middy: “Some 50 minutes after I crossed the line there was devastation. Two explosions shook the finish line and there were terrible consequences.

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“The response from the emergency services here was absolutely first rate, as was the organisation of the event by the BAA.

“Patriots day in Boston should have been a celebration of all that is good within the running community. The weather was ideal and 27,000 runners who had completed months of training were in the process of challenging the famous course.

“This is a very resilient community which I know will bounce back.”

Mims Davies, a Haywards Heath Harrier and town and district councillor, who knows David, said: “It was terrible news from Boston. There are some very sombre harriers in advance of the London Marathon this weekend.”