John Curd stopped close to the end after being hit by pain and extreme weather.
He had also began to suffer pain from a previous calf injury, which he had only recently received treatment for, and "didn't feel so good".
Mr Walker and Mr Hodgson, who had been watching the race unfold, noticed Mr Curd sitting on the ground and escorted him to a St John Ambulance refuge tent . "We were talking to him, he really wanted to go on but he was scared of thunder," Mr Walker, from Boldon Colliery, South Tyneside, said. "When I found out he had done it all these times before, I said I'll do this if you give me your number," Mr Walker added.After Mr Walker set off, Mr Curd and Mr Hodgson were transported to 200m from the finishing line where they met the volunteer runner again.Mr Walker said it was "heart-warming" and he was "pleased" Mr Curd was able to complete the race.
Mr Curd said he would not have finished the race without the efforts of the pair, adding: "It's heartening to find there are some good people in the world.He has since vowed to complete at least two more Great North Runs before he turns 80, and has said he will stay in touch with the two friends who helped him.
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