A young Co Donegal schoolboy has been left speechless after his hero Sir David Attenborough took the time to write to him.
Kyle Skeffington, a pupil at Scoil Iosagain Primary School in Buncrana, wrote to the world’s most famous wildlife filmmaker as part of a letter-writing project.
The 11- year-old is a huge nature lover and loves tuning into Sir David’s wildlife shows.
But with his hectic schedule, Kyle didn’t hold out much hope of getting a reply from the amazing 98-year-old star.
However, Kyle was lost for words when he received a hand-written letter from Sir David from his home in Surrey in England in recent days.
He even included a signed picture of himself for Kyle to keep as a memento.
Sir David Attenborough
The fifth class pupil had told Sir David how he was a huge fan but that his programme on parrots was his favourite and that his own favourite animal was the arctic fox.
But curious Kyle also asked Sir David his opinion on fox hunting and if he thinks it should be banned?
Sir David replied ‘Dear Kyle, Thank you for your letter. I am so glad you enjoy my programmes. Here is a signed photograph as your requests. Best wishes, David Attenborough.”
The famous wildlife expert took no time in replying personally to Kyle and did so in just a few days.
Kyle’s teacher, Ms Claire McDaid, said she was almost as excited as he was when a letter arrived at the school for her pupil.
“We were down at the shorefront when we got a call to say a letter had arrived for Kyle. We raced back and couldn’t believe it when we opened the letter to see a signed picture of Sir David Attenborough.
“Even the envelope with the address on it was hand-written by Sir David. It’s amazing to think that he took the time to personally reply to Kyle considering how busy he is.
“Kyle just couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Ms McDaid has already printed out the letter and it now hangs in a frame on the walls of the primary school in Buncrana.
In his letter, Kyle also revealed how he regularly visits the Wild Ireland Animal Sanctuary in Burnfoot on the Inishowen Peninsula.
The owner of Wild Ireland, Killian McLaughlin, heard that Kyle loves his wildlife sanctuary and invited him down this week to see his favourite artic foxes up close and personally.
“Getting the letter was amazing for Kyle but I genuinely think that the trip to Wild Ireland was the icing on the cake.
“Killian treated us all so well and it’s a day that Kyle will remember for the rest of his life,” said Ms McDaid.
Kyle, who wants to be a wildlife photographer, also gave Ms McDaid an amazing thank-you gift after he presented her with a canvass of himself holding that famous letter from Sir David Attenborough.
Kyle on his very special day out at Wild Ireland with Killian McLaughlin and the arctic foxes. Pics by Northwest Newspix.
