Hull KRA Coldplay superfan who took a 17-hour flight from China to see the band perform in Hull said his “dream had come true” when he was invited onto stage by lead singer Chris Martin.
Twenty-year-old Raymond, from Chengdu in China, arrived at the city’s Craven Park stadium at about 05:00 BST on Sunday after he had taken a flight from Beijing to London and then got a coach to Hull.
Martin said he had read on the BBC website how someone had taken care of the young fan who was looking cold and disorientated when he first arrived in the city.
The singer told the crowd “people in Hull are full of love of kindness” as he welcomed Raymond on stage on Tuesday night and they sang True Love together.
Raymond had already seen Monday night’s show as he had bought tickets for both of Coldplay’s gigs in Hull.
He was unaware then that behind the scenes the Coldplay team were arranging to spring a surprise the following night.
As Raymond stepped out of the crowd into the limelight on Tuesday night, Martin said: “Normally when I pick someone from the audience I’ve never met them before.
“But last night on the internet I read your story on the BBC which said you flew from China to Hull alone.
“You’re the bravest fan I’ve ever seen.”
Jasmine Lowe/BBCMartin held up Raymond’s sign which read ‘Please let me play, wanna speak my true love out’.
The pair then sat side-by-side at the keyboard as they sang True Love together, which the Coldplay star said he had not played for 11 years.
After the event, Raymond thanked those involved in making it happen and said his “true love is for everyone” and that his “dream had come true”.
His story emerged after he encountered security guard Michael Sergeant when he first arrived at the stadium early on Sunday morning.
Mr Sergeant took pity on him, saying he was “fairly disorientated and cold”.
“He’s only 20, so I gave him a KitKat and told him to get some warm clothes from Primark,” he said.
Jasmine Lowe/BBC
