Dad's harrowing Canary Islands holiday ordeal that left him in intensive care for six weeks

Scott Ferguson, 53, was on holiday in Fuerteventura with his wife Sam, seven-year-old son Josh, and some other close family members when he had a stroke on Boxing Day 2022

A dad feared he "would never walk again" after suffering a stroke during a festive family getaway.

Scott Ferguson, a 53 year old chef from Watford, was struck by the sudden medical emergency on Boxing Day 2022 while vacationing in Fuerteventura with his wife, Sam, their seven year old son Josh, and other relatives.

He had risen to brush his teeth when he realised something was terribly amiss. Recalling the harrowing episode, Scott detailed, "Standing beside Sam, I told her I wasn't feeling right. I remember holding my hand to my head, and just feeling so disoriented."

Describing his frightful ordeal, he added, "I managed to sit down and Sam tells me now that she watched me rest my head on my right arm and then the left side of my body slumped and my face started to droop, it was as if losing all power, she knew instantly I was having a stroke."

In a frantic dash for help, Sam bolted next door, hammered on the door pleading for assistance and implored a Spanish couple to call an ambulance. Scott then faced an air evacuation from Fuerteventura to Gran Canaria for critical care. Spending six anxiety-filled weeks recovering in the Canary Islands, Scott was eventually airlifted back to Watford General Hospital.

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Reflecting on those moments, he confided, "I remember thinking I was going to die. I was feeling really frightened and I just thought this must be it." During the confusion-filled event, he said, "I had no real idea what was going on - everyone around me was speaking in Spanish, and I know Sam was trying her hardest to work out what was happening.

"I remember hearing the helicopter blades so loudly, seeing the flashing lights and from there on my memory is a bit hazy. I honestly think my head just shut down trying to process all that was going on. The next thing I remember is waking up in the Intensive Care Unit, and Sam being by my side."

Describing the assistance his partner provided, he said: "Over time and at the point when I was able to stand Sam would help me to wash each morning, it wasn’t an easy task, I am tall and I was still very weak." He emotionally admitted: "The moment I breathed in fresh air was so emotional, I remember almost gasping for air and deeply sniffing - I hadn't had fresh air for 6 weeks."

About returning to familiar surroundings, he added: "I was desperate to be home, near my son, back in my home comforts - but equally terrified of how I could live in my home. Not only was everything physically challenging, but mentally I really struggled too. I felt really anxious, paranoid and down - I felt like a different person to who I was before my stroke."

Doctors confirmed that the stroke was caused by an undiagnosed patent foramen ovale (PFO)- also known as a 'hole in the heart'. This hole allowed a clot to travel up to his brain and cause the stroke- and in September 2023 he had surgery to close it.

Since the stroke, Scott has been attending regular swimming classes at South Oxhey as recommended by The Stroke Association. He says that the classes have helped him gain mobility and become stronger, and he strongly recommends the program to others.

Scott has also been attending trauma therapy where he practises yoga and meditation to help with the anxiety. Unfortunately, Scott did suffer a second stroke in June while on the bus, which led to prescription of epilepsy medication.

However, the dad says he is doing much better and is even easing himself back into work. He said: "It made sense to me that swimming could be beneficial in my recovery, but I had no idea just how much it could help me physically and mentally. Attending these classes has been like a lifeline to me. I really do believe that if I'd not had these swimming classes, I'd still be sat in my bed with limited movement.

"At the time of the seizure I was feeling really good - like I had a good grip on life - this threw me. I found it really hard to leave the house again, and it's like I went back down to rock bottom again. I did pluck up the courage to keep going, but it was so hard.

"Having the medication has helped with things mentally, at least I know something is being done to prevent it happening again. I'm still on a journey with my stroke recovery. I'm having to hugely adapt and learn to understand what's going on with my brain.

"I'm back in the kitchen again after 19 months off work. Now I have to take things slowly, those things I could do blindfolded, like dicing an onion, are no longer tasks I can do so easily. But just like having to relearn how to get dressed, tie my laces, climb stairs, I know I'll have to slowly retrain my brain how to be back in the kitchen.

"I never thought I would have a stroke. I was a healthy and fit 51-year-old. Life was good. A stroke can come at any time, to anyone - I hope by sharing my story more people can be aware of the condition and understand just how difficult recovery can be."