"This is hard to watch." Haunting scenes during Commonwealth Games marathon.

Scottish marathon runner Callum Hawkins has evoked widespread empathy after he collapsed twice in the final two kilometres of the Commonwealth Games marathon.

Hawkins was leading the race, but it appears the heat (it had reached 28 degrees) became too physically distressing for him to continue.

In scenes that sparked worldwide concern, the 25-year-old collapsed just before the Sundale Bridge in Southport and wasn’t able to get to his feet for almost a minute. Just a few hundred metres later, he collapsed again, this time unable to get up.

He was forced to watch from the ground as 34-year-old Australian Michael Shelley passed him.

Poor Callum Hawkins showing all his guts under in a severe distress to reach the finishing line. A brave soul and he is Scottish Celtic! Love you mate! #BraveAthlete #GoldCoast2018 pic.twitter.com/5eMLpQByny

— Amadito Morante (@AmaditoMorante) April 15, 2018

Commentators Bruce McAvaney and Tamsyn Lewis appeared distressed as they described the ordeal.

“What we’re seeing is hard to watch. Very difficult to watch,” McAvaney said.

“This is a tough moment. We are parochial and we are Australians and Michael Shelley is a courageous man and he is hopefully now on his way to a second gold medal but to see what we’re seeing in the background tears your heart apart, to be truthful.”

“Oh no! He is in trouble. He needs help,” Lewis said.

Many spectators became angry as they noted how long it took for officials to help Hawkins, who laid on the road for several minutes before medical staff arrived.

The crowd, who could be seen talking to Hawkins, were told not to intervene, because there were medical officials on their way.

Someone has to help this guy Hawkins. Surely his health is more important than finishing this race. Sickening. #commgames2018 pic.twitter.com/lk6hENRXsm

— Paul Marsh (@Marsh_Paul) April 15, 2018

Extremely hard to watch that in the marathon race. When does medical needs overcome the race itself. Just help the young man please. Hope he is OK Hawkins. Sad to see that

— brad davidson (@braddavo) April 15, 2018

Robbie Simpson, also from Scotland, finished third, and admitted after the race that he “could feel the legs going”.

“He was going so well,” Simpson said of Hawkins.

“I really felt [for him] passing him lying on the ground like that.”

Team Scotland shared on Twitter that Hawkins had been taken to hospital and was undergoing further tests, but there were no “major concerns”.

CALLUM HAWKINS UPDATE:Callum has been taken to hospital for medical review following his collapse in the Marathon as is standard procedure. He is being supported by Team Scotland medical staff & there are no major concerns at this stage.More information to be issued in due course

— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) April 15, 2018

CALLUM HAWKINS UPDATE: We are very pleased to report that Callum is sitting up and speaking with his Dad and Team Scotland medical staff. He is undergoing further tests as a precaution and we all wish him a speedy recovery.
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— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) April 15, 2018