Heartbreaking moment a cancer-suffering zoo worker says goodbye to his friend

Knowing he hasn’t long left Mario, a mentally disabled cancer patient, had to say one last farewell to the giraffe he befriended working at a zoo in Rotterdam.

54-year-old Mario was the Diergaarde Blijdorp zoo’s maintenance man his entire life and became close to the animals while cleaning out their enclosures.

The visit was arranged by Stichting Ambulance Wens Nederland, a wish service for terminally ill patients in the Netherlands.

Founder Kees Veldboer told the Rotterdam based newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: “It’s very special to see that those animals recognise him, and sense that he isn’t doing well.

“You could see him totally light up.”

* If cancer has touched your life and this article has affected you, you can contact the Irish Cancer Society on their national helpline at 1800-200-700.