January 8 is 15 years to the day since an RTÉ News crew was filming a story on the ‘big freeze’ at the time — which went from December 2009 to January 2010.
While some people may have their own stories of the freeze, including the White Christmas of 2009, everyone remembers the incredible clip of a man who was walking along an icy Dublin road before taking ‘quite a wallop’ on the pavement.
While the man himself has never come forward, RTÉ cameraman Colm McCaughey revealed what exactly happened.
Colm said that he was filming on Church Street, just outside the Four Courts in Dublin City Centre, where by complete chance a man was walking by on the icy road.
"Out of nowhere this guy just came from behind me [while we were filming] and he was just walking by the camera," Colm said.
"He just went flying and hit the deck."
Colm said that they rushed over to the man immediately after he fell, with Colm adding that he took "quite a wallop" — and offered him a cup of tea and some help, which he kindly refused.
"I wasn’t even sure if we were recording at this stage. It’s one of those shots where you think 'Did I get that or did I not get it?'
"Luckily, I had been in record and we got the shot."
He continued: "We went over and he was okay.
"He was a bit shook I think and we offered him a cup of tea down in the office but he didn’t want to. He just wanted to get home I think."
Treacherous conditions on the footpaths this morning! Here’s the story of the man who famously slipped on ice and how it was captured on camera by @colmwhatyalike pic.twitter.com/gXyoc4DeEg
— Colm Hand (@ColmHand) December 9, 2022
The clip was then put in a video package for the Six One News, where it went incredibly viral — becoming one of the most well-known RTÉ News clips, and perhaps the most well-known Irish TV clip of all time.
Despite the man who slipped on the ice enjoying his anonymity and never coming forward, the people of Ireland never forgot him — with Coors Light even erecting a (temporary) plaque in his honour ahead of the 10th anniversary of the clip in 2020, paying tribute to "The Guy Who Slipped on the Ice."
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear winter coats. We decided to honour 'the guy who slipped on the ice' 10 years on... pic.twitter.com/jxrnuh5dDx
— Coors Ireland (@CoorsIreland) January 8, 2020
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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