An ex-police officer was watching a rugby match when he was struck down with a deadly bleed on the brain.
Dave Smith, 58, was on the touchline with his friends on a Saturday afternoon in October 2022 when he suddenly developed double vision and became unsteady on his feet. Little did he know he had just suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm – caused when blood flows into a weakened blood vessel wall, causing it to bulge and eventually explode.
This leads to an extremely serious condition known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage – a bleed on the brain – which can cause brain damage. Dave said: “I was chatting with pals about the match when suddenly I felt as though I was looking through a kaleidoscope.
“The club doctor had a look at me and called for an ambulance.”
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Dave, who was just 56 at the time, was taken to A&E, where medics suspected he had suffered a stroke. However, a brain scan revealed the ruptured aneurysm, and he was transferred to The Walton Centre for treatment.
Dave said: “They told me I would need emergency surgery to deal with the bleed. I had a procedure where the aneurysm was ‘coiled’ – everything was explained to me in a calm and reassuring manner which put me at ease”.
Endovascular coiling is when tiny platinum coils are placed inside the vessel in the brain causing the bleeding. This then prevents the vessel from growing or rupturing further.
When Dave woke up from his procedure, he said he felt surprisingly good. He had no head pain or sickness after the treatment but was experiencing fatigue and sight problems.
He said: “I felt brilliant after the procedure. The only thing I was left with though was double vision, this worried me as I didn’t know whether I would be able to be as active. There was no guarantee that the double vision would correct itself, so that was my only concern.”
Thankfully, the double vision also disappeared over time. Dave added: “Before the aneurysm, I was cycling 200 miles per week and I’m an avid walker and hill climber. My biggest fear was that I would not be able to return to this level of fitness. It’s been an interesting year and a half, but I am finally back to the level I was before the aneurysm. I couldn’t be happier.
“I have nothing but praise for the people in the NHS. I honestly couldn’t be more thankful for the amazing staff at the hospital for their exceptional care.”
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Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
