Passenger reveals touching experience he shared with elderly Irish couple which left him in tears
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Passenger reveals touching experience he shared with elderly Irish couple which left him in tears

A MAN who recently flew into Dublin Airport following a trip to Spain has shared a touching story about an elderly couple sitting next to him on the flight.

Caolan McAree was travelling back from Malaga when he saw a woman becoming agitated and trying to get out of her seat in the row across from him.

He noticed the woman's husband trying to calm her down and looking around for help.

Taking to Twitter Caolan revealed: "I was trying to mind my own business but the man caught my eye and stared at me like he needed help, so I asked him was everything OK.

"He shuffled across his seat and leant into my row. 'She's got dementia' he said, full tears in his eyes now.

"Things made more sense so I stupidly said, 'let me know if you need help with anything'."

Thankfully, the elderly man's wife eventually calmed down, which allowed he and Caolan to get to know eachother a little.

"The two of us got chatting, him explaining her dementia and how much she had deteriorated recently, more tears in his eyes.

"Trying to cheer him up a bit I said sure we're still on holiday until the plane lands 'cmon we grab a beer'. Pressed the call button and ordered 2 beers from the air host."

The man told him that he and his wife had been holidaying in Malaga for over 30 years, and it was their favourite place to go.

"This time she was very confused for most of the trip, but he wanted to bring her one last time and said he was still glad he did.

"When the plane landed I helped them with their suitcase down the steps onto the tarmac. I put out my hand to shake it and he pulled me in and hugged me thanking me for being kind, more tears in his eyes.

"I'd been holding it in for the full flight but I lost it too and stood there crying with him. Airport assist where there to help them through the airport so I wished them luck and ran into the terminal building bawling behind my sunglasses."

He said he still keeps thinking about the two of them in "happier times, laughing together at their favourite little wine bar in Nerja."