Moment 'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook crosses finish line and weeps after ... trends now
This is the moment a British man crossed the finish line and wept after he completed a 10,000 mile run across the length of Africa.
Russ Cook, an extreme marathon runner who calls himself 'Hardest Geezer' on social media, reached the finish point in Ras Angel, Tunisia, at 4.40pm this afternoon.
The 27-year-old can be seen finishing the final stretch of the challenge - which he started in South Africa and carried out over the course of 352 days.
Cook from Worthing, West Sussex, was embraced by loved ones and supporters as he crossed the finish line at Tunisia's most northerly point today.
He put his hands on his head in disbelief and flexed his muscles on top of a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea as he was surrounded by reporters and photographers.
Cook embraces his supporters at the finish liner after he completed 385 marathons over a year
Cook appears emotional as he surrounded by photographers and supporters at the finish line
Russ Cook is met by supporters as he nears the finish line in Tunisia
The 27-year-old - who claims he is the first person to run the length of Africa- crossed 16 countries and even survived a gunpoint robbery and a kidnapping during his mammoth challenge.
After he crossed the finish line wearing a bucket hat and a retro England shirt, Cook walked to the sea and cooled off by taking a dip. 'I'm a bit tired. I'm a little bit tired,' he admitted as he stood topless in the water.
One man joked 'let's get you a strawberry daiquiri, Cook replied: 'Yeah, let's f*** off'.
The runner has often joked about having the frozen cocktail as a reward for his epic effort. Speaking to Sky News at the finish line, the endurance athlete said: 'I'm pretty tired.'
Russ Cook beams as he crosses the finish line after becoming the first person to run the entire length of Africa
Delighted fans chanted 'Geezer, Geezer, Geezer', with one telling reporters: 'I just wanted to be part of it. It's a piece of history'.
After starting today's last run from a petrol station in Ghezala, Tunisia, at 10am, he told Sky News: 'One more day, one final push to get this thing done.'
He said he had a 'few tears' this morning, adding: '352 days on the road is a long time without seeing family, my girlfriend. My body is in a lot of pain but I've only got one day, I'm not about to complain. We're going to have strawberry daiquiris on the beach tonight, it's going to be unreal.'
Cook has raised £685,000 for charity so far, with more than £250,000 donated over the last seven days as his loyal following spur him on.
The athlete, who is a self-described former 'fat lad' with alcohol and gambling issues, was introduced to long distance running when he entered a half marathon aged 21.
He originally hoped to achieve the mega distance in 240 days, but different obstacles have delayed his finish by around 100 days.
When he was travelling through Angola at around 1800 miles into his run, he was set upon by armed thugs.
Originally he had hoped to achieve the mega distance in 240 days, but different obstacles have delayed his finish by around 100 days
Russ Cook, 27 from Worthing, West Sussex dubbed 'Worthing's Hardest Geezer' started the challenge 351 days ago
Cook claimed his support van was raided by 'desperate blokes with guns' and that the armed men stole his team's cameras, mobile phones and some passports
Cook claimed his support van was raided by 'desperate blokes with guns' and that the armed men stole his team's cameras, mobile phones and some passports, as well as wads of cash.
He added that nobody on his crew was hurt in the armed hold-up.
Then in August he was 'kidnapped' by a gang of men armed with machetes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
