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He Crowdsurfed in a Wheelchair to the Stage, and Coldplay Pulled Him Up to Play Harmonica (Watch)
By Andy Corbley
Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety.
It’s easy to think that being in a wheelchair means the end of activities that involve intense physical movements—like big wave surfing or, in Rob O’Byrne’s case, crowd surfing.
Rob is not someone who thinks this, however, and even though he lost all control of his body from his chest down, he still loves going to gigs, a favorite occasion from before his accident.
Rob has not let his disability impact his attendance at gigs. Being that he can sing but can only move one arm, he has taken up karaoke with a particular like of emulating the voice of Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
One of his favorite bands, they were in Dublin recently for a tour. Rob just had to be there. At a certain point, he told the Guardian, they released these big bouncy balls into the crowd. Concertgoers were having a riot playing keepie-uppie, and in the pursuit of this frivolity, two very large men fell over Rob, trying to reach one.
The men were very apologetic and decided to lift Rob, wheelchair and all, into the air to see better. A smaller stage sat just in front of the main stage connected by a causeway, and soon, the two men began to carry Rob closer to the small stage, with the crowd either parting or pitching in to carry him.
“I raised my arm in the air,” Rob remembers. “Eighteen months earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to do that—I’d had a tendon transfer, which helped me get back some muscle that I lost in my arm. I was the first person in Ireland to have that operation.”
Even though the security guards were screaming to put him down, Chris Martin helped pull Rob up onto the stage—in front of 80,000 people. Martin apparently asked him a few questions about his age and profession, then asked Rob to join with him in a simple song.
“He handed me a harmonica. I don’t play, but he said he’d look down when he wanted me to blow on it. He made up a song on the spot: ‘We’re in Dublin with Rob, he’s a PT,’ stuff like that,” says O’Byrne, who is a personal fitness trainer for people with similar injuries. “It was short but sweet.
After the show, he and his friends were elated going up Dublin’s O’Connell Street, Rob playing the harmonica—in which Martin had stuffed 50 euros—the whole way.
The news went viral and global, with musician friends as far away as New Zealand calling to express their jealousy that their wheelchair-bound friend had played music with Coldplay in front of more fans than they had cumulatively played for across their whole careers.
WATCH the video below, courtesy of Coldplay and the BBC…
Fiction Favorites 
But . . . but . . how?
Crowdsurfing really IS a mad science!
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Great story and cheers to celebrities with truly a good heart. FYI: I don’t see the video or a link to it.
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I don’t see the video or a link either.
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I reinserted it. There now. Sorry about that.
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I loved the video!!
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I’m so glad. 😁
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Yeah sorry. It didn’t copy. It’s there now.
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Awesome video John … thanks!
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Thanks, Frank.
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Kindness is always the way to go! ❤
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It is. Thanks, Annette. 😊
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This uplifting story is the perfect way to start my day, thank you!
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So glad.
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Another fantastic story, John. Thank you.
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Thanks, GP.
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Another fun story. You’re becoming the source for good news.
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I vowed not to let the world ruin my day.
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What a cool experience!
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For sure. 😁
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Absolutely beautiful story, John. Thank you so much for starting my day off with a huge smile!! Merry Christmas, my friend! 😀 ❤
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I’m glad your liked it. Merry Christmas.
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I think I’ve heard of wheelchair surfing before. It’s always amazing to see in action.
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Yes it is.
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There are good people in this world. What a heartwarmer this is!
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I agree, Lois. I can’t imagine all the big hearts in that arena.
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I have a tear in my eye over this one, John. My goodness. What a beautiful story – from the two guys, to the crowd to Chris Martin. Wonderful to end the week
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I agree, Dale. Thanks. 😁
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This is a great start to my day, John. It’s heartwarming to see that the crowd and a famous band both have a heart so tender that they assisted someone in need. Thank you for sharing this with us.
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You have said it perfectly, Tim. I agree.
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Great story, John — thanks for passing it along!
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Thanks for reading, Debbie.
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Excellent story, John.
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Thank you, Rabirius.
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That is amazing! A beautiful thing they all did.
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Yes it is. Thanks, Kymber
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What an uplifting – in two ways – story!
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I agree, Noelle.
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love it; Chris Martin/Coldplay are the family favs. The reason Dog is called Mylo is because he arrived when their album Mylo Xylato came out. Goodness knows how often we’ve seen them. And now this. What a delightful story and I can just imagine the horror of security!
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Security would have given apoplectic a new name. Thanks, Geoff.
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That entire crowd had heart!
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So true.
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Love this, John. What a happy, miraculous show. And your JohnKu is fantastic. 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. 😊
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Coldplay’s music is hit or miss for me, but I have a whole new respect for them after reading this. What a wonderful thing they did!
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It was pretty cool. Thanks, Teri.
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Now that crowd surfing was for a good cause and made sense. Your JohnKu is perfect! Cheers & TGIF!
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Thank you, Jo. Cheers to you.
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Classy act by a classy act, John. Thanks for sharing this.
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My pleasure, Bruce.
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What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing, John.❤️
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Glad you liked it, Jill. Thanks.
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Thanks for this positivity, John. I hope you had a fabulous Friday. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. It was lovely. Hope yours was terrific. Hugs
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Yes, you gotta have heart. 😍
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All you really need is heart. ❤️
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Yup!
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😊
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John, I love this story. How those two men redeemed themselves!
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Hope my comment went through!
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It came through as “Someone.”
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Lol
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What I said was that I love this story and how those two men redeemed themselves!
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Thank you, Luanne. I certainly agree with you.
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A beautiful and heartwarming share John. Timely for the spirit of Christmas 🙂
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😊
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Great ✍️
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Thanks
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Welcome 🙏 freinds
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That put a huge smile on my face! I wish the news would report more stories like this. Thanks for sharing, John.
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The media is not interested in good news. Only report the hateful and mayhem seems to be the order of the day.
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Yes, sensationalism sells, unfortunately.
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Yes, too bad.
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ah wow ah
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Thanks
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