Runner helps struggling John Terry in marathon

Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry has thanked a fellow runner for helping him during the London Marathon.

Terry took to social media to praise Karl Fitzpatrick from Jersey for "some great words of encouragement" and for running ahead to get him a drink.

Mr Fitzpatrick was dressed in a shoe costume to raise money for Jersey Hospice.

Terry said in a post on Instagram: "A big shout out to the guy dressed as a shoe, who overtook me when I was struggling" and "later he come running back towards me with a bottle of coke".

Mr Fitzpatrick has been supporting the hospice since 2022 and has raised nearly £22,000 in that time. and said Terry stood out as he was wearing the same style of running shoe.

"I said to the fella 'only the greatest marathon runners wear these shoes,' joking as we both had them on", he said.

"I then realised it was John Terry.

"I slowed down and try to give him the motivational bants and tried to reassure him that he was doing fine."

He told Terry to keep running while he went ahead to get some refreshments for him.

He said: "So it might have looked strange, a shoe running the opposite way to everyone else and handing a full fat coke.

"I wished him the very best and told him 'be strong and the pain will go.'"

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