An elated couple who quickly went viral after videos of them getting engaged at the Manchester Marathon were shared across social media have spoken out about the 'amazing' reaction.
Niall West bravely got down on one knee to ask his girlfriend of nine years Beth Miller to marry him beside the finish line on Sunday afternoon (April 16).
The heartwarming moment was filmed by a number of bystanders cheering on marathon participants, as the couple embraced before crossing the finish line together after running the challenging 26-mile route.
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Clips went viral overnight, being shared across Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, even capturing the eye of the BBC 6 o'clock News, where the couple appeared to be interviewed on Monday (April 17).
One TikToker, who filmed the moment even made a public plea to find the pair with a video that amassed more than 55,000 likes. Luckily, it caught the eye of Beth who commented that it was her.
"We can't believe the reaction it has had. We never expected it," Beth told the Manchester Evening News. "Niall is quite a private person and doesn't really use social media, but he said he did it for me.
"I have run the Manchester marathon before on my own last October - I had first signed up three years ago so that I couldn't change my mind, but then it ended up being postponed because of Covid.
"Then this year, Niall decide he was going to do this year's marathon and I couldn't let him steal my thunder! So, we said we would both do it together.
"As it was getting nearer, he must have made the decision that he was going to propose but kept throwing me off the scent. We had obviously talked about marriage, but his sister Chloe is getting married, so he told me he wouldn't propose this year, so I never expected anything."
Beth and Niall, both 28, who met on their third day at Lancaster University, have now been together for nine years. The couple live together in Bolton where Beth is originally from, with Niall from Ramsbottom.
Impressively, even with a quick stop get engaged, the couple finished the marathon with a time of 4 hours and 38 minutes. They ran the marathon to raise money for Maggie's Cancer Centres as Niall's dad and step-mum have both been battling cancer for the last 16 months.
"He told he was going to stick with me in the marathon so that we could finish it together. He was adamant on finishing the race with me, but I didn't think anything of it," Beth added.
"Niall's dad was waiting at the finish line and he kept telling me to look out for them and wave, which was when he pulled me to the side and got down on one knee.
"When it happened, all I was thinking was 'what is going on'? We had just finished the marathon and I didn't think my heart could take much more.
"Afterwards all the family went out for a meal, and we stayed at the Midland and had our room upgraded and had a spa day. It's all been absolutely amazing."
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