But Great Britain won gold to take their first ever title in the men’s 4×100 metres relay.
Running in the final leg for Jamaica, Bolt pulled up with around 60m to go and tumbled to the track.
Stewards offered to help Bolt with a wheelchair but the sprint legend opted to limp away and applaud the crowd as he made his way around the London Stadium.
BBC athletics commentator Steve Cram said: “This is a sad sight. A very sad sight.
“Nobody wants to see a sportsman of that standing like this.”
Jamaica’s Julian Forte, Bolt’s team-mate, told IAAF radio: “He didn’t tell us exactly what happened but from what I saw, it looked like a strain or a cramp of some sort.
“He kept apologising to us but we told him there was no need to apologise – injuries are part of the sport.”
Yohan Blake added: “A hero of the sport to go down like that, as a true friend, I didn’t like it one bit.
“They were holding us too long. To be holding us so long was atrocious. Usain was getting cold and he said ‘I don’t like’ this.
“They were holding us too long. Too many presentations so the race was 10 minutes long. It was cold.”
Jamaica had won the last four 4x100m relays at the World Championships but Britain won thanks to a superb final leg by Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake, who saw off the challenge from the USA’s Christian Coleman.
Mitchell-Blake said: “I wasn’t sure if I had won or not, I gave it my all but I could see Christian Coleman out of the corner of my eye. The feeling of euphoria was from infinity. I can’t register it. We smashed the British record to pieces.”
Adam Gemili, who ran the second leg, said: “We are World champs! To run it with Danny Talbot after such disappointment in London 2012, it is so special to come back.
“Thank you to everyone. It’s crazy. Honestly a dream and a reality tonight. Wow!”
Four-time Olympic gold medallist athlete Michael Johnson hailed the British team of Mitchell-Blake, Gemili, CJ Ujah and Danny Talbot.
He said: “An amazing and outstanding performance from that British team.
“They beat everyone fair and square.
“They delivered on a night when everyone was here – not necessarily to see this.
“Adam Gemili was just ridiculous down the back stretch. He opened up a gap that was always going to be hard for anyone to chase down.”
