The video dating from 1998, broadcast by American news channel CBS on
Thursday as Mandela remained in critically ill in hospital, showed the
towering South African statesman visiting a 15-year-old, also named
Nelson.
"Understanding the fact that I'm near the end,
I remain optimistic with my morale very high, because I'm saying I have lived my life," the statesman, then 80, told the teen, who was dying of brain cancer.
In the amateur video the boy, his head shaved, smiled shyly from his bed at the peace icon, who wore one of his colourful trademark shirts.
Posters of cars adorned the wall next to where the then-president sat holding a teacup.
"If your spirit is not optimistic, your morale is not high, medicine is not very effective," the then president said.
The boy died under three months after the visit.
Broadcast as the 94-year-old nears one month in hospital, the words carry added poignancy.
God bless his soul.
"Understanding the fact that I'm near the end,
I remain optimistic with my morale very high, because I'm saying I have lived my life," the statesman, then 80, told the teen, who was dying of brain cancer.
In the amateur video the boy, his head shaved, smiled shyly from his bed at the peace icon, who wore one of his colourful trademark shirts.
Posters of cars adorned the wall next to where the then-president sat holding a teacup.
"If your spirit is not optimistic, your morale is not high, medicine is not very effective," the then president said.
The boy died under three months after the visit.
Broadcast as the 94-year-old nears one month in hospital, the words carry added poignancy.
God bless his soul.
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