On the most recent episode of Late Late Show, Ian O’Connell captured everyone with his emotional story, he even reached Conor McGregor.
Since his appearance on the RTE talk show, Ian’s incredible strength, bravery and attitude since becoming paralysed from a biking accident, has touched the nation.
Explaining to host Ryan Tubridy, Ian told his story of how he became paralysed from the neck down after falling off his bike at Killarney National Park.
After colliding with an overgrown-log covered in grass, Ian went "flying" over the handlebars of his bike and fell.
"The minute I hit the ground, I just heard a crack in my neck and lost all feeling. I didn't know my body was there," he said.
When he was asked by host Tubridy how he felt on hearing the extent of his injuries, the 16-year-old answered:
"It didn't really seem like much to me at the start, because I knew nothing about spine injuries or anything like that, so then after a while of my friends coming and obviously seeing how shocked they were, it kind of came back to me that, oh they do see something different...
I just kinda said to myself 'Ian, there's not much you can do here. Crying isn't going to make me stand up and run around the place again.' I always say to myself if you can't stand up, stand out," he added.
Ian’s truly remarkable attitude touched the hearts of many, and one UFC star in particular. Conor McGregor took to Instagram express how blown away he was with Ian’s story in an emotional tribute.
"Watching the Late Late show last night and on comes this young man @ianoconnell321! I was blown away by him and his attitude to life and in facing adversity! Truly blown away!" said McGregor within his photo caption.
The UFC star added: "Then tonight, by complete chance, I bumped into him at an event and end up getting to watch the main event fight ringside with him! What a night! Thank you Ian it was great to meet you my brother, you are some man! Your quote literally blew me away! “If you can’t stand up, STAND OUT!” What a legend!"
Conor finished by saying: "I think I speak for every Irish man and woman that watched you on the Late Late show last night by saying you are a true inspiration to us! Thank you brother."
We couldn’t agree more!
