Danish runner Axel Wang-Christensen was one of the leaders at the start of the race, but then suffered a fall at the hurdles.
The other athletes continued their run, but Karabana, who was at the back of the group, stopped and tried to help the Dane up, but when that was not possible, he tried to help Wang-Christensen off the treadmill.
“He could have been seriously injured,” Karabana said, adding that he decided to help because he was not doing well in that race. “I thought I could at least do something good and decided to help. I don’t feel like a hero.”
The Andorran runner was given a standing ovation by the crowd as he finished last, more than a minute behind race winner Osama Zoglami of Italy.
“It really made me happy and showed me that I had done something good,” Karabana said of the audience’s reaction.
The European Athletics Championship will take place in Munich until August 21.
