Ricky, Marion and Micah just before the race
MILFORD man Ricky Simms has sent a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all those who contacted him during the Boston marathon bomb incident.
Ricky – a member of Finn Valley Athletic Club and manager of some of the world’s top athletes including Usain Bolt – was 100 metres from the finish line when the two bombs exploded killing an eight-year-old boy, two others and injuring more than 170 people.
He said he was inundated with best wishes. He had been at the race to see his latest protege Micah Kogo finish second in the marathon. He is pictured above with Micah and Marion before the race.
“I was 100 yards away having lunch when we heard the explosion, it was unreal,” said Ricky.
“I was with the elite athletes and they had all finished so the people who were crossing the line when the bombs went off were there for different reasons.
“Many are there for personal goals or to raise money for charity and reaching the finish line is supposed to be an incredible experience for them and then this happened.
“Nobody expects something like this to happen.
“We were all moved into a room in the hotel where we had been eating and put under lockdown. The security people and everyone there were just incredible.
“We were kept there and for the next five hours we just watched what was happening a short distance away on TV.
“The elite athletes were very upset just like everyone else. It was just a dreadful dreadful day and my heart goes out to all those injured and all those who have lost loved ones on what should have been a wonderful day for all of them.”