'I love my superhero legs', says boy who 'inspires everyone around him'

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: 'I love my superhero legs', says boy who 'inspires everyone around him'Image caption, Dáibhin had to have both his legs amputated last year ByKeiron Tourish North-west reporter, News NIPublished30 June 2026Just over a year ago, four-year-old Dáibhin's life changed when he was rushed to hospital with a high temperature. Doctors discovered he had sepsis, and a month later he needed a double amputation. Now, fitted with prosthetic limbs, he is enjoying playing with his nursery classmates.

"I love my superhero legs and all my friends," he said. "At the end of term, Dáibhin's school dedicated a day to him, with his classmates dressing up as superheroes in his honour. His mum, Gemma McConnell, said he had the time of his life enjoying lemonade and cake and playing in the bouncy castles in his own superhero outfit.

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But in May last year she thought her world was falling apart when Dáibhin woke up with a temperature she couldn't bring down. Image caption, Dáibhin's mother Gemma said she feared her son was going to die at one point during his illness"We took him to A&E and his arm started going purple," she said. "A doctor then told us that he needed to go to resuscitation.

"Dáibhin was put on life support in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where doctors said he had sepsis. It was caused by meningococcal disease, external, a serious bacterial infection which most commonly affects children under five. Meningococcal bacteria causes most childhood cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in the UK and Ireland.

"At one stage we thought we were going to lose him," McConnell said. "It was frightening thinking that he could die. "We were told to get our family and the priest to the hospital.

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He was given loads of transfusions. "In June, Dáibhin had a double amputation. His mum said she was glad he was alive but it was a very difficult time.

'It doesn't bother him at all'Image source, Family handoutImage caption, Dáibhin started nursery last SeptemberBut since then, Dáibhin has got on with life - and started nursery as planned last September. "He just flies about. It doesn't bother him at all," McConnell said.

"He loves school and all his friends. "She added that his friends included him in everything - and he was "really excited" for the day dedicated to him at school, Steelstown Primary in Londonderry. She said it was "an amazing idea" and she was grateful for the support her son had received.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.