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Thursday, May 24, 2012 | 8:05 p.m.

Updated: 5:59 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010 | Posted: 2:34 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010

Man With No Legs Helps Pittsburgh Doctor Finish Ironman Competition

PITTSBURGH —

Famed Pittsburgh Neurosurgeon Doctor Joseph Maroon said he recently completed an ironman competition in Hawaii, with the help from a man who is psychically disabled.

Rajesh Durbal, who was born without both feet and only one arm, said he encouraged Maroon to continue in the competition just as Maroon was about to give up. Durbal was competing as well.

Maroon said he was shocked to see who was there to rally him on.

"A car came by and shined the lights on his body and legs, and I saw he had no legs and an arm that was malformed. I looked at that; I looked at him and I said, 'My God,'" said Maroon."I psychologically had thrown in the towel. I was going to call for an ambulance."

Durbal said he was determined to finish the race.

"I was just on this mission and there was no one, nothing that was ever going to stop me," said Durbal.

Maroon works as the Steelers neurosurgeon. He said because Durbal encouraged him to finish the race and gave him the inspiration to do so, he flew him into Pittsburgh for the Steelers versus Panthers game on Thursday night.

"He's going to meet some of the Steelers. He'll be on the sidelines and hopefully share his story and inspiration with some of them," Maroon said.

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