The 16-year-old is paralysed from the neck down and his attitude is incredible.
Aside from a discussion about the Eurovision and Emma Mhic Mhathúna’s heartbreaking story, Ryan Tubridy also spoke with an inspirational teenager on the most recent episode of The Late Late Show, Ian O’Connell.
When he was just 16-year-old, Ian became paralysed from the neck down after falling off his bike at Killarney National Park.
After hitting his bike against a log, Ian tumbled over the handlebars and fell.
In his own words: “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 being told about the extent of his injuries, he said “at first, it didn’t really seem like much to me at the start because I knew nothing about spinal injuries and that. Then after a while, with my friends coming to see me and seeing how shocked they were, it sort of came back to me that they might see something different.”
After enduring such a horrific accident, Ian’s bravery, strength and positivity is truly remarkable.
He adds: “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.”
Here’s his interview in full along with a brief look at some of the people that were inspired and moved by Ian’s inspirational words.
What an incredible young man Ian O'Connell is. A master class in strength, resilience, maturity & guts. You're already doing yourself proud Ian….
"If I can't stand up I'll stand out".
"Not every day is a good day but I try to find something good in every day". #LateLate
— Niamh Fitzpatrick (@NFitzPsychology) May 11, 2018
"If I can't stand up, I'll stand out" – what an amazing young man you are Ian #LateLate
— James Patrice (@JamesPatrice) May 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/NolimbsNolimits/status/995058851148976128
2 extraordinary people on the #latelate tonight – Emma Mhic Mhathúna and Ian O’Connell. Thank you to you both.
— Lisa G🌸 (@_LiziG) May 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/PhotosCork/status/995084070353883136
What unbelievable strength and courage both Ian O'Connell and Emma Mhic Mhathúna showed tonight on the #LateLate a true master class in strength, resilience & guts. #LateLate
— Dave Mc Grath (@TheParishDave) May 11, 2018
#latelate. Ian o’connell. An inspiration to everyone .. enjoy every moment … do what you can … stand out …. such a strong young man ..
— Northside Girrrrl ☺️ (@TheJayBird2) May 11, 2018
Clip via – The Late Late Show
