Deadly explosions Monday at the Boston Marathon finish line led to mass confusion, says a local runner who had just finished the race less than a dozen minutes earlier.
Kathy Harris was on her way back to her hotel after her race, when the chaos struck.
“Everyone is trying to make sure that their friends and loved ones are safe and getting away from that area,” she said during a phone interview from Boston.
“When the explosions went off, you could see people kind of stop and look around to see what was going on. There was probably five or seven seconds in between the two explosions. People were kind of look like ‘what’s up?’ And when the second one stopped we just carried on not knowing.”
Boston police have confirmed at least three people were killed in the explosions, with some news outlets reporting as many as 141 injured and in hospital, 17 in critical condition according to CNN. It's being labeled a terrorist attack by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Harris, Dougall Media's sales manager, says she believes she was a fair distance away from the finish line and had actually been near the family area for about 20 minutes before the first explosion.
Following the explosions, Harris said all she could hear were sirens as ambulances and police worked to evacuate people from the area.
“I’m glad I’m not there,” she said. “I know there was a few Thunder Bay runners behind me, but I don’t know if they’re all through.”
Red Rock's Patricia Allaire crossed the finish line even closer to the blasts, though she'd already been taken a few blocks away to warm up and receive her medal. It was then that she said the first explosion happened.
“The second explosion was about three seconds right after that,” she said. “I could see people on their phones trying to find out what happened. Where I was it was still relatively calm. I was getting kind of panicky because I had to meet my husband at the meeting area which would mean I would have to go back towards where the explosions where. It was really loud like a bomb.
She decided to head back so she could meet up with her husband but before she could a volunteer came running up the street telling everyone to keep moving forward towards the park. She said she used someone else’s phone to text her husband.
“I was really worried,” she said her voice shaking.
“He was in the meeting spot and that was close to where the explosion was. He met me at the hotel.”
Allaire said she passed Thunder Bay's Deborah Frederickson as she made her way to the finish line, but didn’t say if she knew was alright.
The Associated Press reported that a few hours after the winners crossed the line, the first explosion could be heard on the north side of Boylston Street, just before the finish line near the photo bridge.
A second explosion was heard a few seconds later. Police are also believed to have detonated a third device found in the area. It's being described by Massachusetts politicians as a "sophisticated, coordinated, planned attack."
Alan Cranston, manager at Fresh Air Experience, said no one from his running group was in Boston for the Marathon but he knew several of the participants that did go.
He added that hadn’t heard from anyone to see if they were alright.
“A friend of ours had phoned from Minneapolis just to make sure that one of our employees hadn’t gone to Boston,” he said. “It’s shocking to see these random acts of violence that are targeting innocent people that have nothing whatsoever to do with the cause. I hope all the locals and everyone is safe.”
Two explosions reportedly erupted at the finish line of the iconic marathon Monday afternoon.
At least eight participants were from Thunder Bay, three from Dryden, two from Kenora and one from Red Rock. All have been accounted for an confirmed safe and sound at this time.
"We are all safe. Our hearts go out to Susan Mcdonald who couldn't finish due to the blasts. Hopefully we'll all be able to catch our flights tomorrow, given the heightened security surrounding Boston at the moment," Philp said in an email Monday night.
The local and regional runners included:
- Deborah Frederickson
- Kathy Harris
- Chester Draper
- Christine Smith
- Michael Wood
- Natalie Lehto
- Ryan Mcdonald
- Susan Mcdonald
- Marcia Migay
- Warren Philp
- Scott Potts
- Patricia Allaire
- Charlie Harland
- Julie Whelan
Miles with the Giant Thunder Bay Marathon's Charla Robinson said the tragedy has given local race organizers pause for thought.
"Our committee will be discussing to ensure that we take the appropriate actions to protect runners and spectators at our event," she said via Twitter. The race is scheduled for Sept. 22.
Anyone looking for information on family or friends who may have been injured can call (617)-635-4500.
More than 2,000 Canadians took part in the race. About 17,500 racers had crossed the line before the explosions detonated.
With files from Leith Dunick
