Runners at a US half marathon were left to wade through floodwaters after torrential rain.
Footage from the Racefaster Half Marathon in Paramus, New Jersey, shows runners struggling to get through muddy water and holding on to metal railings as they attempt to reach safety.
Organisers advertised the event as having a “flat and fast” course aimed at helping runners achieve personal bests, but chaos ensued when 127mm of rain fell across the borough.
Roads had to be closed and motorists needed rescuing while the runners fought on against the wild weather.
Zac Clarke, who previously won US reality TV show The Bachelorette, posted a video of himself and others struggling through the waist-high waters.
“Bro, this is nuts,” Clarke said in the video posted to social media, before later revealing to followers his finishing time of 1h 40m 42s placed him third in his age group.
Several runners told News12 they faced strong currents and dirty water throughout the race.
“The flood was up to here,” runner Marijana Dinic said, gesturing to her chest and waist.
“I was grabbing this woman next to me, and she grabbed me and was holding me.”
Dinic said the water was deeper and more powerful than she expected.
“I thought maybe 50m and it will be over, but after that it was another flood,” Dinic said.
“Not just flood, but the current was so strong. I had to hold myself to a rail. There was a rail under the tunnel.”
Megan Chesney, another participant, said she decided to pull out over safety concerns about the floodwaters.
“I had told my friend the second that we see the river has reached the path, I’m just going to make the safety call for myself,” Chesney said.
“We don’t know what’s under this water. We don’t know where the potholes are.
“There could be electricity in the water. There could be glass in the water.”