Belfast boy Dáithí meets Liverpool stars Jurgen Klopp and Mo Salah

Dáithí with Jürgen Klopp (Picture via Donate4Dáithí on X, formerly known as Twitter)

Dáithí with Mo Salah (Picture via Donate4Dáithí on X, formerly known as Twitter)

It was a special moment for organ donation campaigner and Liverpool superfan Dáithí Mac Gabhann as he got the chance to meet the team’s manager Jürgen Klopp and star player Mo Salah.

Posting the images to X — the seven-year-old is beaming — as he stands alongside the football stars who at the weekend beat Fulham 4-3 in Sunday’s Premier League game.

Dáithí with Mo Salah (Picture via Donate4Dáithí on X, formerly known as Twitter)

Dáithí has been battling Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) since birth and is increasingly reliant on a wheelchair and oxygen as his wait for a heart transplant donor continues.

The west Belfast boy has now been awaiting the life-saving procedure for over 2,000 days.

During that time, Dáithí — along with his parents Máirtín and Seph — have driven the Donate4Dáithí campaign, which has helped to increase awareness of organ donation.

That persistence also led to a change in the law, when in 2021 the Executive approved a soft opt-out legislation drawn up by Robin Swann when he was Health Minister.

Despite being allowed to proceed, Dáithí’s Law was delayed after the collapse of the Executive in February 2022, before being cleared in Westminster. The legislation took effect in June.

Dáithí’s deteriorating health meant he was removed from the list during the summer, but after travelling to Newcastle for cardiac surgery in July, he was able to reclaim his place.

While campaigning Dáithí has been awarded the Spirit of NI Award and the prestigious accolade for Best Social Media Campaign in Charity, alongside his dad Máirtín.