A man with Downβs syndrome has melted hearts around the world by proposing to his girlfriend on ITVβs βThis Morningβ.
Niki Wyatt had previously asked girlfriend Samantha Lochrie, who also has Downβs syndrome, to marry him. But on the show he sealed the deal by getting down on one knee and presenting Samantha with a ring.
The couple appeared on the show alongside their mothers, Jackie and Kim, to tell of how they were previously βbanned from kissingβ at a youth club.
Jackie and Kim have since started their own club for over-18s with learning difficulties, where members are allowed to kiss if they want to.
On the show, presenter Eamonn Holmes explained that Downβs syndrome can vary in severity from person to person, but both Samantha and Niki have an βacademic level of a four or five-year-oldβ.
The couplesβ mothers claim theyβd been going to a youth club for a few years, but after they became boyfriend and girlfriend, staff at the club said it was βinappropriateβ for Samantha and Niki to lock lips.
βWhen I went to a youth club as a teenager I had a boyfriend and we kissed,β Jackie said.
βWe thought, whatβs the problem?β
Angered by the situation, the mums teamed up to start their own club for adults with learning disabilities, so that people like Niki (30) and Samantha (23) arenβt prevented from having the same experiences as other people their age.
Kim said dating Niki has had a huge positive impact on her daughter and sheβs βmuch more confident β than she used to be.
Prior to the show, Niki had asked Samantha to marry him, but she didnβt expect to receive a ring live on air.
Needless to say it was a pretty emotional moment for all involved, as well as a lot of people on Twitter.
Jackie said itβs βdifficult to sayβ how Niki and Samanthaβs relationship will change in the future as βtheyβre not capable of living on their ownβ, but she and Kim are happy to support them every step of the way.
We wish them a very happy future together.
βThis Morningβ continues on ITV1 weekdays at 10.30am.
