Friday's Late Late Show told Ian O'Connell's story, the teenager who was paralysed from the neck down after falling off his bike at Killarney National Park.
O'Connell told the tale to Ryan Tubridy on RTE on Friday night.
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. I stayed conscious and I landed on my neck and then fell onto my back. I looked to one of my friends and said 'ring an ambulance, quick!' and they were still in shock. I said to my friend 'Michael, I'm paralysed'.
After ten days in hospital, Ian was told that he had broken his neck and is paralysed from the shoulders down. His response and outlook is remarkable:
I 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.
Among those whose attentions were snaffled by an inspirational TV appearance was Conor McGregor, who met Ian at an event at the 3Arena the following evening. McGregor posted the following on his Instagram page:
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! 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! 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 ❤️
