Bill Iffrig, Runner in Iconic Boston Marathon Bombing Photo, Dies at 89

Bill Iffrig, who became a nationwide symbol of resilience for appearing in a photo that captured his fall near the Boston Marathon finish line in 2013 after the first of two bombs exploded and who soon got up and completed the race, died on Jan 8. He was 89.

Mr. Iffrig died at a memory care facility in Marysville, Wash., according to his son, Mark Iffrig, who confirmed his father’s death.

Mr. Iffrig, who was an accomplished mountaineer and chairman of a local climbing club, did not start running until he was 42. He went on to win dozens of national championships in races of varying distances.

He ran in more than 50 marathons, including several Boston Marathons. Mr. Iffrig placed second in his age group of 80-plus in the 2015 Boston Marathon, his son said.

Mr. Iffrig gained national attention, however, after he competed in the Boston Marathon in 2013, the year two homemade pressure-cooker bombs were detonated. Three people were killed that day, 17 lost limbs and 250 more were injured, many of them grievously.

Mr. Iffrig was about 60 feet from the finish line when the first bomb went off, knocking him to the ground. The moment was captured by John Tlumacki, a photographer for The Boston Globe.