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A passerby who cooled off exhausted athletes with a high-pressure hose in one hand while holding a beer in the other was awarded a participation medal for his “legendary” efforts.
The man was holidaying at a property along the annual Flying Brick Bellarine Sunset Run route, which took place in 28C heat on the Bellarine Peninsula, south-west of Melbourne, last Saturday.
With a wide-brimmed hat, a hose and a beer, they helped cool some of the 900 participants by dousing them with water from across the street.
Some of the runners went off the path to enjoy the swim and thank the man.
After being branded a “national hero,” event organizers tracked down the man to give him a participation medal “because he earned it.”
A man wielding a hose and a beer has been hailed a “national hero” for using a high-powered hose to help cool down more than 900 runners on the Bellarine Peninsula on Saturday (pictured).
A neighbor filmed the man cleaning the competitors with a hose and shared it on social media, where the footage went viral and attracted more than a million views.
Footage shows one of the competitors giving the Good Samaritan a thumbs up in thanks as they ran past.
Spraying runners with water is an event tradition as they pass a nearby trailer park.
However, the runners did not expect much relief in that section of the race.
“The last thing anyone expected was for a local to drink a soda spraying the esplanade,” event organizer Dion wrote on Facebook.
“Next year there might be longer hoses to keep my old friend and other people safe.”
The video was shared on the event’s Facebook page, where many participants paid tribute to the man.
“The hoses saved me during the race,” one commented.
Another added: “The cool downs were much needed, thanks to everyone who helped,” wrote a second.
“This guy and all the heroes at the trailer park with their hoses are my favorite part of this race.”
He received high praise from runners and social media users alike, and event organizers awarded him a participation award for his efforts.
Others called the man a “national hero” for his “legendary” act.
“For me it’s the beer in the hose hand, thank you for your service sir,” one commented.
‘That’s gold! What a legend,” wrote a second, while another added that “not all heroes wear capes.”
Dion later left the participation medals at the man’s vacation home.
“I slipped the medals under the front doors,” he said. yahoo.
“We received a message that they received the various medals and they were greatly appreciated.”
Dion later posted: It’s fair to say that Hose Man has been a viral hit.
“We could be the hottest ticket in town on February 8, 2025.”