In the harrowing and heartfelt drama Running on Empty, family, endurance, and unexpected heroism collide during one of the most gruelling races in the world—the London Marathon. Set against the relentless backdrop of soaring temperatures and intense personal stakes, this emotionally charged film follows Dom Cassidy, a first-time marathon runner whose life takes a terrifying turn just moments before crossing the finish line.

Dom, a determined father of two and beloved nephew of the once-famous actress Sonia Fowler (now retired from her soap star days), has trained for months. His goal isn’t just about physical triumph—it’s about proving something deeper to himself and his family. On the surface, everything is going smoothly. Dom paces himself well, pushes through the pain, and manages to reach mile 23 in under four hours. He’s nearly there. The crowds cheer. His dream is within reach.

But then, reality hits like a brick wall.

The heat becomes suffocating. His vision blurs. He can no longer feel his legs. At mile 24, his knees give out. Half a mile from the finish line, Dom’s world goes black—his eyes roll back into his head, and he collapses into the arms of a fellow runner. It’s a chilling moment of life mimicking death, captured amidst the cheers of the oblivious crowd. Dom’s only thought before he blacks out is a whisper in his mind: I have to finish this race.

When he wakes, he isn’t at the finish line or surrounded by cameras and family. Instead, he’s zipped inside what he describes as a “body bag” filled with ice, in one of the emergency tents for overheated runners. Disoriented and delirious, Dom can’t remember his own name or even his date of birth. Medical staff rush around him as panic rises. He’s then rushed to Harlow Hospital for further treatment. His body had reached its limit—but he wasn’t alone.

Enter Natalie Cassidy, his aunt, former national TV darling turned private citizen, who shows that off-screen, heroes come in all forms. The moment she hears of her nephew’s collapse, Natalie races to his side. No red carpet, no script—just fierce loyalty and fast food. Her first move? A delivery of comfort: nine chicken nuggets, a Big Mac, and a Coke. But her presence is more than nutritional. It’s emotional. It’s grounding.

Natalie documents the ordeal on Instagram, showing Dom hooked up to IVs in a hospital room. Her message is a blend of pride and concern: “He did it in 3 hours and 56 minutes and he loved every bit of it. Well, almost. He ended up in hospital… This was us Sunday night about half 10 after I’d delivered him a Big Mac and Coke.” For Natalie, the moment becomes a blend of past and present—once saving fictional lives as Sonia, now saving real ones as herself.

Back home, Dom’s family becomes the quiet heartbeat of the story. His wife Annalisa and their two young children beam with pride, unaware at first of just how close they came to losing him. His sisters and mother flood social media with tributes, calling him a hero. Meanwhile, Natalie’s own words echo with a mixture of awe and warning: “Smashed it. But take it easy next time geez. Come and do it next year at my pace.”

The film intertwines flashbacks of Dom’s training and family life with present-day recovery scenes, painting a portrait of a man driven not just by goals, but by love. And for Natalie, the experience is a full-circle moment. Having run marathons herself—in honor of late friend and fellow soap icon Barbara Windsor—she knows the mental and physical toll. Her marathon team once raised over £100,000 for Alzheimer’s research. Now, in the quiet of a hospital room, she’s running a different kind of race—one to keep her family together.

Running on Empty is not just about a man who nearly died trying to cross a finish line. It’s about the invisible battles fought behind public triumphs. It’s about what happens when glory fades and family steps in. It’s a story of pride, pain, perseverance—and one woman’s McDonald’s-fueled mission to save her nephew.