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Vancouver riot kissing couple identified

Riot Breaks Out After Game In Vancouver

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 15: Riot police walk in the street as a couple kiss on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver broke out in riots after their hockey team the Vancouver Canucks lost in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

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It’s perhaps the lasting image from the inexplicable and foolish rioting in Vancouver that erupted after the Canucks Game 7 loss to Boston in the Stanley Cup finals. A young couple laid out in the street between rioters and riot police caught up in the moment somewhere between feeling amorous and defying a police order. I know that always sets the mood for me.

The one mystery that still lingered on was just who were these lovebirds that find the smell of tear gas to be romantic? That mystery is now at an end as CBC did some digging to figure out just who was who that was mixing it up in the madness and making us think of a certain Beatles song.

As it turns out the couple makes for quite the fun story on their own. From CBC News:

The mystery identity of the couple kissing while lying on a Vancouver street as riot police battled crowds following the Canucks’ Stanley Cup loss has been revealed as Australian Scott Jones and his Canadian girlfriend Alex Thomas.

Jones’s family said he has been in Canada for six months, working as a bartender and trying to break into acting and standup comedy. At least one of his comedy routines has been posted on YouTube.

That’s quite the perfect spot for a guy who’s hoping to become famous to be caught in. As it turns out, Scott’s father Brett was able to confirm it was his son Scott all the way from Perth, Australia as the photo became a viral hit almost immediately.

Brett Jones said the couple had been at the NHL final game, and after the frenzy following the loss spilled into the street, the two were caught in the violence.

“They were between the riot police and the rioters, and the riot police were actually charging forward, and Alex got knocked by a [police] shield and fell to the ground,” he told CBC News. "[Scott] was comforting her and gave her a kiss to say, ‘It’s going to be OK,’ and the photographer just took the shot at that moment.”

Brett Jones said Scott is fine, and Alex suffered a bruised leg from falling to the ground.

With Jones and Thomas now being identified, we’ve got a funny feeling their newly found fame is going to ensure that they’re seen a lot more on TV and the Internet for quite some time. The photo is incredible and the moment of “serenity amongst madness” gives you the kind of emotion that is so rarely seen in any sort of photography. While the situation was terrible and the reasons for it happening are nonsensical, it’s amazing to see something so seemingly beautiful to come out of it. Here’s to hoping their fame doesn’t go to their heads.