WATCH: Soldier surprises kids with best possible Christmas gift - ‘I can’t stop crying!'
AN IRISH soldier has given his children the best possible Christmas surprise in tear-jerking scenes on live television.
'Late Late Toy Show' viewers across Ireland were reduced to tears last night when Sergeant Graham Burke surprised his children with an early return from a mission in Mali.
The father-of-three is part of an Irish peacekeeping mission in the African state and his children did not expect him to return in time for Christmas.
But in tear-jerking scenes he surprised his kids by bursting from a huge Christmas present to delighted cries.
Even presenter Ryan Tubridy could not hold back his tears as Sergeant Burke’s children rushed forward to hug their father with the crowd rising to their feet and cheering.
Adam, eight, and Kayla, six, had been on the late night talk show’s festive special, an Irish television institution, as official “toy-testers”.
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They told Tubridy their father was not able to watch their appearance on TV because he was in Africa taking part in a training mission.
Adam said: “He can't watch the Toy Show because he's in Mali, training the soldiers.
"He's been there for six months but he's coming back in January and then I think he's going again for another month."
Tubridy feigned surprise before leading the pair over to a large present on stage.
He said “this is my favourite surprise” before ripping off the wrapping paper to reveal Sergeant Burke hidden inside.
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Adam screamed “Daddy” before rushing forward to hug his father as Kayla, along with Sergeant Burke’s wife Marie and their youngest child Emily, completed the group hug.
Sergeant Burke said: “I’m shaking, it’s amazing. It’s just unreal.”
Tubridy himself was moved to tears and said: “Welcome home, friend.”
His voice wobbled as he praised the Irish defence forces, who are involved in peacekeeping missions, and he concluded: “Sometimes we forget … I can’t take this, lads! Happy Christmas.”
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The incident went viral on social media and the clip has now been shared thousands of times.
RSVP magazine tweeted: “We can’t stop crying.”
RTE said: “We must have something in our eye ... but then, there wasn't a dry eye in the country.”
Journalist Philip Nolan said: “What a lovely, lovely thing to do. Happy Christmas to all our peacekeepers in the Defence Forces.”
And one person even joked: “Why did they put him in a box? Sure he was already in camouflage?”
