78 Year Old Running Knocked Over By Explosion Crosses Finish Line

78 year old Bill Iffrig was in the mist of running his third Boston Marathon when we was near the finish and the first bomb went off. You may have seen the footage of the runner that falls to the ground as the first explosion happens, that runner was Bill Iffrig.

He recounted his perception of the events with The Herald of Everett on Monday saying he heard a noise and found himself on the ground. Bill was literally only 5 feet away from the first explosion. Lucky compared to most; he only suffered scrape on his knee.

After the race officials helped him to his feet, Bill walked across the finish line and then continued to his hotel about half a mile away.

Bill's son, Mark Iffrig, was following his dad's progress online but didn't know of the catastrophic event that had occurred until he went social media to post of his dad's achievement. Upon hearing the news, Mark called his father to check to see if he was alright. Talking with Associated Press, Mark said of his conversation with Bill: "He said it was quite a concussive blast. He was a little dazed. Someone helped him up."

(CBS News / ESPN Boston)