(NewsNation) — The Boston Marathon approaches its 11th anniversary since the 2013 bombing attack and one survivor is reflecting on the resilience and recovery that has marked his journey.

Marc Fucarile was just feet away from the second bomb when it exploded, instantly amputating his right leg. In a Sunday interview on “NewsNation Prime,” Fucarile recounted the harrowing experience and the long road to recovery that followed.

“I remember a lot. A lot of pictures and video remind me of everything that kind of happened that day,” Fucarile said. “The first bomb went off. And then the second bomb went off 12-13 seconds later right next to us.”

Fucarile, who was there to support a friend running the marathon, said he initially thought he wouldn’t survive. But his determination to see his young son again kept him fighting.

“I just kept saying I wanted to see my boy,” Fucarile recalled. “I really didn’t think I was gonna die because I didn’t feel anything. You know, I felt no pain.”

After multiple surgeries and a year-long stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Fucarile has since run the Boston Marathon three times. He has also founded his own nonprofit, the ReMARCable Foundation, to help others dealing with mobility challenges.

As the city prepares to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the bombing, Fucarile offered a message of hope and resilience to those facing hardship.

“The only ones that don’t complete the race are the ones that stop,” Fucarile said. “And that’s the same with life. Right? You’re facing challenges, focus on what you can control, not what you can’t control.”