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'Angels Of The Allies' Share Special Bond After Saving Marathon Runner

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - They started off as strangers, but now some paramedics and other health care professionals have an incredible bond.

Crossing the finish line of any road race comes with feelings of excitement and accomplishment.

At this year's Pittsburgh Marathon, one runner didn't have the chance to experience that.

Jeff Whitmore, 25, dropped to one knee on the Boulevard of the Allies.

"I saw this runner go down to one knee and I went over to him and I asked him, I said, 'Do you want to finish the race? And he said yeah, and he was sweating and huffing and puffing like you're supposed to," volunteer Mark Ferguson said.

Ferguson helped Whitmore up and the two started walking together. Within seconds, the situation took a dramatic turn.

"His eyes rolled back in his head and he basically died in my arms. We both fell to the ground, and I rolled him over and somebody else came out. I yelled for the medics to come," Ferguson said.

Several paramedics rushed in as well as health care professionals, who just happened to be nearby.

In fact, all of these people, now known by some as the "Angels of the Allies" jumped into action.

"There is a reason everything happens and he's touched my life so much even though Jeff has really never met me, he'll always carry a special place in my heart," Dr. Irene Katres said.

"We had more people than you typically have actually in a hospital. It was just a little bit different running a cardiac arrest on the Boulevard of the Allies with 5,000 people watching on the hot cement. So, a little bit different than what we usually do, but we had a great team here," Pittsburgh Marathon Medical Director Ronald Roth said.

Whitmore, who wasn't breathing and didn't have a pulse that day, is now doing well thanks to strangers in the right place at the right time.

"Life is an awesome thing and never take it for granted and don't sweat the small stuff, smile every day," Ferguson said.

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